Harness racing: Warrawee Needy begins his road to the $1.5 North America Cup

Warrawee Needy, who banked $535,000 last season as a rookie, made his qualifying debut on Thursday morning at Mohawk Racetrack for trainer Carl Jamieson.

The 3-year-old son of E Dees Cam, who was named the 2-year-old pacing colt of the year in Canada last season, cleared to the lead past the quarter for driver Jody Jamieson and never looked back to score a comfortable win by nine and a quarter lengths in 1:54-flat.

“He looked really good,” said Carl. “I asked Jody what he thought or how he was, and he said that he wasn’t just good, he was a monster.”

Carl co-owns Warrawee Needy, a winner of 9 from 12 starts last season with a lifetime best clocking of 1:49 4/5, along with breeder Dr. Mike Wilson, Tom Kyron and Floyd Marshall.

Warrawee Needy remains a top contender for this year's $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup, slated for Saturday, June 16 at Mohawk. Last year's 'Cup' winner and stablemate, Up The Credit, qualified for the second time for the Jamiesons this morning.
The son of Western Terror went gate-to-wire through panels of :29 3/5, 1:00 1/5 and 1:28 4/5, before using a :26 3/5 final quarter to stop the timer in 1:55 2/5.

Up The Credit has amassed $1,161,643 lifetime.

It also marked Alsace Hanover’s first qualifier of the season. The world-record holder finished fifth, timed in 1:57 1/5 with a :26 4/5 final quarter, for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Tony O’Sullivan.

A pair of last year’s top sophomore trotting fillies, China Pearls and Magic Wheel, qualified this morning as well. China Pearls went gate-to-wire for driver Randy Waples in 1:54 3/5, with Magic Wheel finishing second, beaten two lengths, for driver/trainer Joe Hudon.

Also in that qualifier, Whiskey Tax, who earned $498,262 last season, including a second-place finish in the Hambletonian, finished fourth, timed in 1:56-flat, for driver Jack Moiseyev.

Classy Lane Rose, who banked $143,130 last season as a rookie, qualified for a second time this season. The daughter of Jeremes Jet got under the wire first in 1:54 2/5. The bay filly has a career best of 1:53 3/5 for James Millier who co-owns with trainer Ben Wallace.

Other qualifier winners were:
Tymal Oh So Nice – 1:57.2
Ill Be There – 1:57.3
Masters Voice – 1:59
Daniel Semalu – 1:55.2
Mindsweeper – 1:56.2
Pokerman Pete – 1:58.1
Boca Boca – 1:57.3

(edited press release - WEG (Greg Gangle)