North American News

This weekend attention swings north to Woodbine Mohawk Park where the road toward the Pepsi North America Cup begins to intensify with a crucial dress rehearsal in the Grade 3 $140,500 Somebeachsomewhere Stakes.

Brandon Blvd (Downbytheseaside) headlines Saturday’s feature and shapes as one of the more fascinating colts heading toward next month’s Cup eliminations. The Andrew Harris-trained son of Downbytheseaside was one of the stars of last season, winning seven of 10 starts and stopping the clock in a blistering 1:48.4 during a Breeders Crown elimination at Mohawk.

His return this season could hardly have been more impressive.

After resuming with an effortless victory in the Grade 3 Paul Revere at Plainridge Park, Brandon Blvd has quietly been kept fresh with a sharp Meadowlands qualifier suggesting he has returned every bit as strong at three.

The absence of unbeaten superstar Beau Jangles (Cattlewash) only adds further intrigue.

Beau Jangles has dominated the early part of the season and already looks the horse every rival must eventually beat in the Pepsi North America Cup, but his decision to bypass this weekend’s assignment suddenly leaves the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes wide open.

That creates a major opportunity for several emerging stars to stake their own claims.

Sweet Lovin Lou may be the horse capable of producing the biggest statement. The Daniel Lagace-trained colt resumed with an eye-catching third after charging home in :26.1 and profiles as a colt ready to take a significant step forward second-up. His two-year-old form already showed he belongs at the elite level after finishing third behind Beau Jangles in the Grade 1 Metro Pace.

No Waitlist also commands respect after chasing Beau Jangles home in Ontario Sires Stakes Gold company last week, while Tilthecowscomehome again finds himself trying to bridge the gap to the division’s absolute elite after consistently chasing the top names throughout last season.

The depth of the field underlines just how strong the current three-year-old pacing crop appears in North America.

Saturday’s card also launches the 2026 Graduate Series for four-year-olds 

Prince Hal Hanover (Captaintreacherous) arguably enters the series as the headline act.

The Dr. Ian Moore-trained star has returned as a far more mature and complete racehorse this season, opening his four-year-old campaign with three consecutive victories including the Grade 2 Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup.

Last season’s million-dollar earner already established himself among the best of his generation with victories in the Adios and Milstein Memorial, but there is a growing sense he may now be developing into an older horse capable of competing against the absolute elite free-for-all pacers later this season.

Bruno No No No (All Bets Off) looms as one of the biggest dangers after his stunning 1:48.1 elimination victory recently, while the powerful Dave Menary stable again flexes its depth with five starters engaged in the opening Graduate leg.

The Graduate Trot also carries significant depth 

Happy Jack B (Chapter Seven) brings the strongest credentials after last season’s New York Sires Stakes success, while Monserrate (Chapter Seven) enters off a sharp Meadowlands victory that suggested he is quickly returning to his best form.

Locally, Mr Walner Fashion (Walner) has quietly built an outstanding record since joining Tim Cherwaiko, winning four of five starts and rapidly emerging as one of Canada’s more progressive older trotters.

With North America Cup aspirations beginning to crystallise, proven older stars resuming serious campaigns, and several divisions starting to sort themselves out ahead of the major summer features, Saturday night at Mohawk Park feels like one of the first genuinely important form references of the 2026 season.

by Bevan Greig for Harnesslink