Woodbine Mohawk Park: Bettors Wish, Workin Ona Mystery win, Captain Crunch survives in NA Cup elims

Crunch time came early in the first of two C$50,000 eliminations for the C$1 million Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday night, and an incident on the first turn paved the way for second choice Bettors Wish to score his fourth straight victory in 2019, while at the same time, put the chances of 1-2 favorite Captain Crunch in peril. When the dust had cleared, Captain Crunch barely held on to the fifth spot, earning a slot in next week's final at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

As for the particulars, there was speed in abundance as Bettors Wish and Dexter Dunn left strongly from the rail while Captain Crunch, Air Force Hanover, and Century Farroh moved sharply at the outset. Air Force Hanover and Yannick Gingras were three-deep, with Captain Crunch in between that one, and Bettors Wish on the inside. Scott Zeron couldn't keep Captain Crunch pacing early on the first turn, as he broke stride, briefly losing his action, and moving clear of rivals. With Zeron and Captain Crunch laboring on the rim, Air Force Hanover took the front in 26 2/5, but almost immediately yielded as Bettors Wish regained the front.

Dunn and Bettors Wish were crawling the second quarter, and that allowed Hurrikane Emperor and Daniel Dube the ability to brush strongly to assume control just past the 56 2/5 half. Captain Crunch remained on the outside without cover as the pace quickened, with Hurrikane Emperor hitting three-quarters in 1:23 even.

Dube couldn't keep the rail closed in the stretch, and Bettors Wish found the room and the momentum to take control of the race by midstretch. The battle for place ensued, and De Los Cielos Deo and David Miller were airborne after angling from the pylons at the back of the pack in early stretch to get second. Best In Show rallied for third, ahead of Hurrikane Emperor, with the previously-undefeated-in-2019 Captain Crunch holding fifth.

Chris Ryder trains and co-owns Bettors Wish along with Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm, and Ken Solomon. Bettors Wish scored in 1:49 3/5 a personal-best for the son of Bettor's Delight.

"He's so versatile he can handle anything," said Dunn after the race, commenting on the incident in the first turn. "He just makes you feel full of confidence."

There were no surprises in the second C$50,000 North America Cup elimination as 4-5 favorite Workin Ona Mystery scored virtually wire-to-wire in 1:49 flat for driver Tim Tetrick, who simultaneously was winning his 11,000th lifetime race.

Tyga Hanover and Workin Ona Mystery left from the outside, with the former taking control on the opening bend and the latter clearing before the 26 3/5 first quarter. Tetrick rated the half nicely in 55 1/5 and picked up the pace slightly as Stag Party and driver Dave Miller rallied up without cover to challenge. With a three-quarters clocked in 1:22 2/5, Tetrick was confident in the bike, sprinting home in 26 3/5 while well in-hand. Captain Victorious, a 61-1 proposition, angled off the pylons in midstretch and rallied late to garner the place, with Stag Party holding third tenaciously, followed by Tyga Hanover and Aflame Hanover.

Trained by Brian Brown, Workin Ona Mystery has now won eight of his nine career races. The son of Captaintreacherous is owned by Diamond Creek Racing, Stambaugh-Leeman Stable, Alan Keith and Wingfield Bros. LLC.

"The colt raced super," said Tetrick. "It was a big mile. He's always had high high speed. If he stays healthy and keeps his mind on business he'll be fine."