First Road to the North America Cup

MILTON, ON – May 9, 2024 – Woodbine Entertainment today (May 9) released its initial “Road to the Pepsi North America Cup” rankings for the 41^st harness racing edition of Canada’s most prestigious harness race.

The 41^st Pepsi North America Cup for three-year-old pacers will take place on Saturday, June 15 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The eliminations for the $1 million event will take place on Saturday, June 8.

A total of 56 sophomore pacers are currently eligible for the Pepsi North America Cup. The next sustaining payment for the event in May 15.

Woodbine’s Communications, Marketing and Racing teams collaborated to determine the “Road to the Pepsi North America Cup” rankings. New rankings will be released each Thursday leading up to the race.

Road to the Pepsi North America Cup – Rankings – May 9, 2024

1 – Captains Quarters (Trainer: Herb Holland)

Owner: Rich Stiles
​Driver: Jody Jamieson
​Sire: Captaintreacherous

2024: 0-0-0-0 – $0 – Q1:53 (Woodbine Mohawk Park)
​2023: 5-2-1-2 – $525,904 – 1:49.3 (Woodbine Mohawk Park)

Last Start: 1^st (Qualifier) in 1:53 on May 6 at Woodbine Mohawk Park

2 – Legendary Hanover (Trainer: Anthony Beaton)

Owner: Eric Good, West Wins Stable, Mark Dumain
​Driver: James MacDonald
​Sire: Huntsville

2024: 0-0-0-0 – ​ $0 – Q1:50.4 (Woodbine Mohawk Park)
​2023: 9-6-2-0 – $405,100 – 1:50 (Woodbine Mohawk Park)

Last Start: 1^st (Qualifier) in 1:50.4 on May 3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park
​Next Start: Entered in Overnight on Saturday (May 11) ​ at Woodbine Mohawk Park

3 – Captain Albano (Trainer: Noel Daley)

Owner: Patricia Stable, L A Express And Sjoblom Inc., Michael Dolan
​Driver: Todd McCarthy
​Sire: Captaintreacherous

2024: 0-0-0-0 – $0 –
​2023: 9-7-2-0 – $445,680 – 1:49.2 (The Red Mile)

Last Start: 6^th (Quaifier) in 1:55 on May 3 at The Meadowlands
​Next Start: Qualifying on Friday (May 10) at The Meadowlands

4 – Clever Cody (Trainer: Dr. Ian Moore)

Owner: Clever Cody Stable
​Driver: Aaron Merriman
​Sire: The Panderosa

2024: 1-1-0-0 – $44,521 – 1:50.1 (Miami Valley)
​2023: 10-6-1-2 – $415,810 – 1:50.4 (Woodbine Mohawk Park)

Last Start: 1^st (Ohio Sires Stakes) in 1:50.1 on May 4 at Miami Valley

5 – Funtime Bayama (Trainer: Richard Moreau)

Owner: Bayama Farms
​Driver: Sylvain Filion
​Sire: Hes Watching

2024: 1-1-0-0 – $12,500 – 1:51.2 (Woodbine Mohawk Park)
​2023: 7-4-2-1 – $246,720 – 1:50.1 (Woodbine Mohawk Park)

Last Start: 1^st (SBOA Stakes Elimination) in 1:51.2 on May 4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park
​Next Start: Entered in SBOA Stakes Final on Saturday (May 11) at Woodbine Mohawk Park

6 – Gem Quality (Trainer: Chris Ryder)

Owner: Let It Ride Stables Inc., Odds On Racing, Brad Grant, Enviro Stables Ltd.
​Driver: Dexter Dunn
​Sire: Captain Crunch

2024: 0-0-0-0 – $0 – Q1:52.1 (The Meadowlands)
​2023: 8-4-1-1 – $442,710 – 1:50 (Hoosier Park)

Last Start: 1^st (Qualifier) in 1:52.4 on May 3 at The Meadowlands
​Next Start: Entered in PA All-Stars on Saturday (May 11) at Pocono Downs

7 – Newsroom (Trainer: Joe Holloway)

Owner: Val D’Or Farms
​Driver: Dexter Dunn
​Sire: Always B Miki

2024: 0-0-0-0 – $0 –
​2023: 12-7-2-1 – $247,565 – 1:49.4 (The Meadowlands)

Last Start: None in 2024
​Next Start: Entered in Qualifier on Friday (May 10) at The Meadowlands

8 – Better Is Nice (Trainer: Tony Alagna)

Owner: Alagna Racing LLC., Pryde Stables Inc., Birnam Wood Farms
​Driver: Andrew McCarthy
​Sire: Bettors Wish

2024: 1-0-1-0 – $10,274 –
​2023: 11-7-1-2 – $510,120 – 1:50.3 (Hoosier Park)

Last Start: 2^nd (New Jersey Sires Stakes) in 1:52 on May 4 at The Meadowlands
​Next Start: Entered in New Jersey Sires Stakes on Saturday (May 11) at The Meadowlands

9 – Captain Luke (Trainer: Tony Alagna)

Owner: Robert LeBlanc, Pryde Stables Inc., Brad Grant, Steven Head
​Driver: Todd McCarthy
​Sire: Captaintreacherous

2024: 0-0-0-0 – $0 – Q1:52 (The Meadowlands)
​2023: 12-2-4-0 – $362,266 – 1:51 (The Meadowlands)

Last Start: 1^st (Qualifier) in 1:52 on April 20 at The Meadowlands
​Next Start: Entered in Qualifier on Friday (May 10) at The Meadowlands

10 – Storm Shadow (Trainer: Dr. Ian Moore)

Owner: R G McGroup Ltd., Serge Savard, Mac Nichol, Bolton Farms LLC
​Driver: Bob McClure
​Sire: Bettors Delight

2024: 1-0-0-1 – $3,000 – Q1:51.3 (Southern Oaks Training Center)
​2023: 11-4-1-3 – $375,154 – 1:51.1 (Woodbine Mohawk Park)

Last Start: 3^rd (SBOA Stakes Elimination) in 1:51.4 on May 4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park
​Next Start: Entered in SBOA Stakes Final on Saturday (May 11) at Woodbine Mohawk Park

by Mark McKelvie, for Woodbine Communications