It's good to be the top ranked horse in North American harness racing, as horses that find themselves atop the poll often develop a following. Ever since he set a Canadian record in the 2023 Pepsi North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park, fans of the sport have wondered when the seasonally unbeaten sophomore Its My Show would race again.
After the 'Cup' win, the connections of Its My Show had a decision to make regarding his next start. For three-year-old pacing colts, the next stop on the Grand Circuit rolls into New Jersey on July 8 for eliminations of the Meadowlands Pace. Its My Show is not eligible for the race, and thus would have to pay $76,075 — the amount equal to 20 per cent of the nominating and sustaining payments made into the race — plus starting fees to race in the elims.
Richard Young, co-breeder and co-owner of Its My Show with Joanne Young, has stated that the son of Sweet Lou - Put On A Show, after much deliberation, will skip the Meadowlands Pace.
"The cost of supplementing is high and he loses money finishing third," said Young in a Facebook post. "However, although a factor was not the deciding factor. I think one can understand why he was not made eligible in the first place. My horse was still a maiden and although we liked him, it was a huge stretch to just pay into everything. As the owner, yes, I do believe I have the best horse but that is a small piece of the equation . My horse being a gelding plays a bigger [role] in our equation; the equation of longevity. I'd like to race my horse a few more years. Winning doesn't increase his value as a stud so it came down to what's best for the horse and after speaking with Linda [Toscano], one of the best trainers on the planet, we have decided to skip the Pace and get him ready for the Adios."
Eliminations for the Adios are set for July 22 at The Meadows. Given that stretch of five weeks between the North America Cup final and the Adios eliminations, Young told Trot Insider that Its My Show would more than likely have a qualifying mile as a tightener between those two stakes tests next month.
The lifetime best 1:47.4 victory in the 2023 Pepsi North America Cup for Its My Show was his sixth win in six seasonal starts, with career stats now at 6-2-1 from 14 starts and $649,965 in earnings.