Woodbine Entertainment today released its initial “Road to the Pepsi North America Cup” rankings for the 39th edition of Canada’s most prestigious harness race.

The $1 million Pepsi North America Cup is just over five weeks away (Saturday, June 18) and decisions already loom for the connections of the 48 eligible three-year-old pacers. The final sustaining payment to the 'Cup' is coming up on May 15 and nearly all eligible horses have qualified.

For many of the top local stars, this weekend marks the start of their three-year-old campaign with the eliminations of the SBOA Stakes (Ontario Sired). South of the border, sires stakes action is either underway or set to begin in several states.

Mark McKelvie of Woodbine Entertainment annually provides the rankings on the “Road to the Pepsi North America Cup” and today shares his initial top 10 contenders. The rankings will be updated weekly leading up to the Cup eliminations on Saturday, June 11.

Here are some upcoming key races on the “Road to the Pepsi North America Cup”:

• Friday, May 13 - ​SBOA Stakes Eliminations – Woodbine Mohawk Park
• ​Sunday, May 15 - ​PA All-Stars – Mohegan Sun Pocono

Road to the Pepsi North America Cup – Top 10 (May 12, 2022)

1. Pebble Beach (Sire: Downbytheseaside – Ohio)

Owners: Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco, Country Club Acres Inc., and Laexpressfoderadeovolente
​Trainer: Noel Daley
​Driver: Todd McCarthy

2022: 0-0-0-0, $0, 1:53Q (Meadowlands)
​2021: 11-7-2-2, $361,250, 1:48.4 (Red Mile)

2. Gulf Shores (Sire: Downbytheseaside – Ohio)

Owners: Country Club Acres Inc., Crossover Racing, and Wingfield Brothers LLC
​Trainer: Brian Brown
​Drivers: Yannick Gingras, David Miller, Ronnie Wrenn Jr.

2022: 0-0-0-0, $0, 1:56.4Q (Scioto)
​2021: 10-6-3-0, $493,967, 1:51.3 (Scioto)

3. Early Action (Sire: Huntsville – New York)

Owners: Val D’Or Farms, and Ted Gewertz
​Trainer: Joe Holloway
​Driver: Brian Sears

2022: 0-0-0-0, $0
​2021: 13-8-2-1, $442,817, 1:49.4 (Red Mile)

4. Stonebridge Helios (Sire: Sunshine Beach – Ontario)

Owners: John Fleischman, Angie Stiller, and John Pentland
​Trainer: John Pentland
​Driver: Bob McClure

2022: 0-0-0-0, $0, 1:51.1 (Woodbine Mohawk Park)
​2021: 7-4-2-1, $295,710, 1:51.4 (Woodbine Mohawk Park)

5. I Did It Myway (Sire: Captaintreacherous – Pennsylvania)

Owners: Country Club Acres Inc, Joe Sbrocco, Don Latore, and Alagna And Fodera Racing
​Trainer: Tony Alagna
​Drivers: Tim Tetrick, Todd McCarthy

2022: 0-0-0-0, $0, 1:51.1 (Meadowlands)
​2021: 8-5-0-1, $138,658, 1:50.3 (Red Mile)

6. Bob Loblaw (Sire: Sunshine Beach – Ontario)

Owners: Ken Middleton Jr., David Walls, James Grant, and Starting Centre Stables
​Trainer: Ken Middleton Jr.
​Driver: Sylvain Filion

2022: 1-0-0-0, $1,050
​2021: 12-3-0-3, $233,657, 1:52.4 (Woodbine Mohawk Park)

7. Beach Glass (Sire: Somebeachsomewhere – Pennsylvania)

Owners: Schooner II Stable
​Trainer: Brent MacGrath
​Driver: Paul MacDonell

2022: 0-0-0-0, $0
​2021: 5-3-1-0, $35,750, 1:51.1 (Woodbine Mohawk Park)

8. Night Hawk (Sire: Betting Line – Pennsylvania)

Owners: Acadia Farms Inc., Joe Sbrocco, In The Gym Partners, and Leeman Lombardo Stable
​Trainer: Brian Brown
​Drivers: David Miller, Trace Tetrick

2022: 2-1-1-0, $22,894, 1:51.2 (Hoosier)
​2021: 2-2-0-0, $54,219, 1:52 (Philadelphia)

9. Ario Hanover (Sire: Captaintreacherous – Pennsylvania)

Owners: Kirk Nichols, Aws Stbs LLC., Joe Sbrocco, and Rich Lombardo Racing LLC.
​Trainer: Brian Brown
​Drivers: David Miller, John De Long, Cameron McCown

2022: 4-1-3-0, $27,744, 1:52.4 (Miami Valley)
​2021: 1-0-0-0, $4,417

10. Greatest Ending (Sire: Somebeachsomewhere – Pennsylvania)

Owner: Reginald Petitpas
​Trainer: Dr. Ian Moore
​Drivers: Dave Palone, Sylvain Filion, Tyler Moore, Bob McClure

2022: 1-1-0-0, $34,789, 1:51.2 (Meadows)
​2021: 5-1-4-0, $23,000, 1:55.1Q (Woodbine Mohawk Park)

(Woodbine)