NA Cup Friday

Greg chimes in with a Cup post. We'll handicap the Burlington tomorrow. Looks like rain in the forecast. I hope that holds off.

If you have not checked out the North America Cup website, it just keeps getting better and better. The intro gets the blood pumping and WEG's shiny-domed handicapping guru has some great updates for fans. Check it out. If you are in the area this year, head out to Mohawk for the Cup. It's packed.

Thanks Greg for this update. Top notch as usual.

Road To The NA Cup: It’s Burlington Time

Business will begin to pick up this week as the Burlington Stakes will be held on Saturday at Mohawk. The is always an interesting event because some horses are just prepping for the Cup, others are looking to win because they aren’t eligible to the Cup, and so forth. Today, we’ll take a look at each of the divisions and highlight some of the contenders.

The first division should be a battle between Dali and Sand Shooter.

Dali, who drew post one, is making his season’s debut, but he has qualified three times and should be ready to roll. He was tight off the bench last year his first-time out, so you should probably expect that again.

Sand Shooter won in 1:51.1 at The Meadows last time out, but that was on May 9th at The Meadows, but he’s under the care of trainer Jim Arledge, who is a top horseman and will have him ready. One thing that may hamper him is that he drew the outside post nine in the event.

A couple of other nice looking horses in there are Art Official, who got cooked in a heavy pace-duel in the Berry’s Creek last time out and Its That Time, who will lure Tim Tetrick up to Mohawk off a third place finish in the Max Hempt Memorial at Pocono Downs in his last start.

Many eyes will be on the second division as Somebeachsomewhere and Santanna Blue Chip resume their rivalry from last year.

All reports on Somebeachsomewhere have been positive after he was scratched out of the first Ontario Sires Stakes event. He drew the rail, but has only trained/schooled since his big qualifier earlier this year.

Santanna Blue Chip, who has qualified twice, hasn’t put up the flashy qualifying time like Somebeachsomewhere or Dali, but you have to respect his two-year old campaign, and his top flight connections. Unfortunately, he drew post position ten, which will greatly compromise his chances.

If you are looking to try and beat those two, Trade Editor, who will pick up John Campbell for the first time, could be an option. The Blair Burgess barn always has to be respected, and he is coming in off a victory.

The final division is probably the most wide-open split of the three.

Deuce Seelster, who gets back in the bike for the first time this year, was scratched out of last week’s Ontario Sires Stakes final after a second place finish in the elimination, so it remains to be seen how he will perform off that.

Lonestar Legend, who had a huge 1:50.4 qualifier at the Meadowlands, picked up a handicap by drawing post position ten, so again, we’ll have to see how he can get into the race based on that.

Keystone Horatio, who ran into Lennon Blue Chip in last week’s OSS Final and finished second, is also in there, and gives Randy Waples a shot at having a horse in the Cup.

Also entered in there is Four Starz Moxie, who is coming off a third place finish in the ’s Creek final.

In other action this week, The New Jersey Classic final at The Meadowlands features some top-flight contenders like Daley Deposit Only. Between that race and The Burlington, the Cup picture should come into focus much more clearly following Saturday night.