NA Cup Elims Drawn

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Published: June 16, 2009 02:26 pm EDT

Four eliminations for the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup have been drawn and are set to be contested

Saturday, June 20 at Mohawk Racetrack.

The connections of 40 three-year-old pacers dropped the names of their 'Cup' charges into the Mohawk race office entry box this morning. The 'Cup' will be decided June 27 in what will be a stakes-laden card at the picturesque Campbellville, Ont. oval.

The top two finishers from each of Saturday's $50,000 elims will have their cards stamped for the rich final. The elims have been carded as Races 5, 6, 8 and 9. The connections of elim winners will be able to select their charge's post positions for the final. Two third-place finishers from the elims will be drawn into the final by lot.

Coming in off a Burlington victory in which driver Paul MacDonell found daylight late, Jack Darling-trained Real Desire colt Carnivore (PP3, P. MacDonell) will be looking to gain entrance to the Cup via the first elim. Last season's Breeders Crown winner Well Said (PP4, R. Pierce) has drawn mid-gate for conditioner Steve Elliott. Upstart Real Artist colt Keep It Real (PP10, S. Condren) will be looking to keep his career unbeaten streak intact for trainer Joey Shea. The bay continued to roll right along last week in the Burlington Stakes, but will have a tall task ahead of him from the 10-hole.

After having just missed by a half length last weekend in the New Jersey Classic at the Meadowlands, Western Ideal gelding Dial Or No Dial (PP2, B. Sears) will be representing trainer Jim Campbell in the second of the Cup elims. OK Boromir (PP3, L. Ouellette), the No Pan Intended colt that posted a minor upset in the Burlington, has drawn a favourable post for conditioner Frank Baker, Jr. Ideal Danny (PP6, R. Pierce), representing the Erv Miller barn in the third elim, will also be looking to build upon his Burlington victory.

After going down to Yonkers Raceway and capturing the Art Rooney Memorial by open lengths, Western Hanover colt If I Can Dream (PP5, G. Brennan) has drawn mid-gate for trainer Tracy Brainard in the third elim. Courtesy of a 1:49 mile, three-year-old North American season's leader Barber Pole (PP7, B. Sears) will be looking to improve on a disappointing off-the-board finish in the Rooney. Fresh off victory in the Jersey Classic, Blair Burgess-trained Cams Card Shark colt Passmaster Hanover (PP10, T. Tetrick) will have to overcome a disadvantaged post position if he is to make it to the Cup finale.

Having recently captured an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold final at Rideau Carleton Raceway, Western Terror colt Fast Pay (PP2, P. MacDonell) has drawn favourably in the fourth elimination for trainer Dave Menary. Vintage Master (PP3, D. Dube) almost converted a tough overland trip in the Jersey Classic into pay dirt for trainer Jimmy Takter, but the Western Ideal colt settled for a second-place finish by a mere head. Having finished a neck back in second to Carnivore in the Burlington, Art Colony (PP7, J. Campbell) will be looking to get the job done for trainer Casie Coleman.

In addition to the Cup elims, Mohawk Racetrack will also be showcasing some of the continent's top three-year-old pacing fillies in eliminations for the Fan Hanover Stakes. The $35,000 elims have been carded as Races 3, 7 and 10.

Three-year-old trotters are sure to be a draw Saturday at 'The Hawk,' as a trio of $30,000 Goodtimes Stakes elims will also head postward. The Goodtimes elims have been slotted as Races 1, 2 and 4.

Click here to view the entries for Mohawk's Saturday night card.

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