Milton, ON — With the heart of the Grand Circuit season quickly approaching, the 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings appear poised to provide great entertainment for racing fans in Ontario and across North America.

Woodbine’s Mark McKelvie has released his latest rankings of the top Pepsi North America Cup eligible horses following an eventful weekend in harness racing. The $500,000 Messenger and the first OSS Gold event of the season were the main events on the ‘Road the NA Cup.’

American Courage is the new number one on McKelvie’s list following his victory in Friday’s Messenger, the first leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown. The Travis Alexander trainee is a perfect four-for-four this season and has just one loss in 12 career starts. As handy as they come on a half-mile oval, American Courage will be put to the biggest test of his career in the upcoming Meadowlands Pace, as he looks to solidify his top-ranking position.

Back at home, Bulldog Hanover was the talk of the town following an ultra-impressive 1:49.1 victory in Saturday’s OSS Gold at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The Jack Darling trainee overcame post 10 and an entire mile on the outside to claim a career-best score. Bulldog Hanover now has five wins in eight career starts. Darling noted post-race that his stable star will remain in Ontario through the summer and not head to the United States until following the OSS Super Final.

This weekend’s Meadowlands Pace eliminations will feature seven of McKelvie’s top-10 ranked ‘Cup’ contenders. American Courage, Perfect Sting, Abuckabett Hanover, Southwind Gendry, Lawless Shadow, One Eight Hundred and Rockyroad Hanover are seven of the 14 horses entered in this Saturday’s Meadowlands Pace eliminations.

This week’s full rankings can be viewed here.