NA Cup Update

From Greg, another sharp report.

It’s been a busy week in the news department for many of the top three-year old colt and gelding pacers as the North America Cup draws ever closer.



Pull The Pocket’s (and everyone else’s) #1 rated three-year old, Somebeachsomewhere, had to be scratched from his scheduled debut on Saturday in the first Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series event of the year due to a foot injury. It doesn’t appear to be a major injury and Somebeachsomewhere will make his debut instead in the Burlington on May 31.



That’s also where Dali will begin his season, as the #2 horse on our board took the week off after qualifying impressively at Mohawk the last two weeks.



#3 rated Santanna Blue Chip was very good in qualifying action on Friday morning at Mohawk as he won by eight lengths in 1:53.2. He is also being pointed to the Burlington in two week’s time.



After our update last week, our #4 rated contender, Sand Shooter, made his pari-mutuel debut at The Meadows in the first Pennsylvania Sire Stakes event of the season for the sophomore pacing class. Sand Shooter was awesome, winning by five and a half lengths in 1:51.1 over an off-track.



Badlands Nitro, who sits at #5 in the ratings, was a 1:52 winner at Pocono Downs last week in an overnight event. He is entered in the Max Hempt eliminations at the Northeast Pennsylvania oval on Saturday afternoon.



Real Tough, who made his debut last week at #6 on our board, finished a charging third in a non-winners of three event last week at The Meadowlands. He will be heading to Canada for the Burlington off that performance.



Deuce Seelster, who was probably the biggest beneficiary of the Somebeachsomewhere scratch, is entered in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series eliminations on Saturday at Mohawk. He will have a new driver this year as Jack Moiseyev will drive with last year’s pilot, Paul MacDonell, committed to Somebeachsomewhere.



Mucho Sleazy, who is #8 on the board, finished out of the money in the Berry ’s Creek final after setting a pressure-packed pace. He is entered Saturday at Balmoral Park in the Cardinal Stake eliminations.



Genuwine, who popped onto the big board last week, is entered in the first round of New Jersey Sire Stakes action at the Meadowlands on Saturday night. He had a sharp 1:53 qualifier before dropping into the box.



Finally, #10 rated Share The Delight, who beat Genuwine in that qualifier, is entered in this Sunday’s Empire Breeder’s Stakes eliminations at Tioga Downs.



For some other horses who may be moving up, Lonestar Legend, a Don Swick trainee, went a dazzling 1:50.4 qualifier at The Meadowlands last Friday. He was a decent stakes horse last year and appears to have talent.



Daley Deposit Only also opened some eyes after our update from last week as he ripped off a 1:51.2 qualifier, which was the fastest in the history of Pompano Park .



On The Brink, Dali’s stablemate, is entered in the same event as Share The Delight, but in another one of the eliminations.



Two more Ontario-sired horses to keep an eye on Saturday are Lucky Man, who overcame post ten to win in 1:53.1 last week for trainer Casie Coleman, and a well-bred son of Camluck named Trade Editor, who hails from the barn of last year’s winning trainer, Blair Burgess.



On the flipside, both Duneside Perch and Moon Beam struggled again in qualifying action this week and we’ll see where their connections go since they haven’t been sharp.