Woodbine Mohawk Park: Bulldog Hanover, Perfect Sting capture Pepsi North America Cup eliminations

Bulldog Hanover more than lived up the pre-race hype in capturing the first of two C$50,000 eliminations for the Pepsi North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night. The sophomore son of Shadow Play overcame an overland journey and won convincingly for driver Jody Jamieson in a 1:49 mile.

Bulldog Hanover relaxed in the early stages as Highlandbeachsbest, Bettor Sun and Rockyroad Hanover all left with purpose. At the quarter Rockyroad Hanover and Dexter Dunn had control in 27 3/5, and when Yannick Gingras and Southwind Gendry aborted a quarter-move, Dunn quickly took hold of Rockyroad Hanover and waltzed to the half in just 56 3/5.

Jamieson was on the move right before the half, and Bulldog Hanover immediately picked up the bit and moved on even terms with Rockyroad Hanover. The two raced as a team through a wicked 26 1/5 third quarter, as Desperate Man tried to keep with cover on the outside, and the remainder struggled to keep up with the leaders.

Bulldog Hanover asserted his class, as the 3-10 favorite mowed down Rockyroad Hanover in the late stages, pacing powerfully through the wire with a 26 1/5 final quarter. Desperate Man, another son of Shadow Play, gamely rallied for second, with pace-setter Rockyroad Hanover settling for third. Southwind Gendry and Bettor Sun completed the qualifiers in the field that reduced to just six with the scratch of Lawless Shadow.

Trained by Jack Darling for the Jack Darling Stable and Brad Grant, Bulldog Hanover won for the sixth time in eight starts this year and returned $2.60 to win.

"He may be the best horse I've ever driven," said Jamieson. "He's a great horse and overcame a bad drive."

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Perfect Sting made his Canadian debut in the second elimination and proved up to the task, as David Miller guided him to a 1:49 4/5 victory for trainer Joe Holloway as the 1-2 betting choice.

Perfect Sting, Summa Cum Laude, and Whichwaytothebeach all left hard, with Whichwaytothebeach getting the front into the first turn and leading in 27 seconds flat. Miller moved Perfect Sting in the second quarter and cleared well before a comfortable 55 4/5 opening half. Perfect Sting kept the pace to his liking, and that had Sylvain Filion, behind Whichwaytothebeach, pulling pocket and going on the offensive before the 1:24 three-quarters was hit.

In early stretch it appeared as if Perfect Sting would again play the bridesmaid role, as he had in his last two starts, but in mid-stretch the Always B Miki-sired colt started fighting back, and with the strength of a 25 4/5 final quarter, emerged victorious. Whichwaytothebeach settled for second, with Abuckabett Hanover, Simon Says Hanover and Jimmy Connor B also reaching the final.

Owned and bred by Brittany Farms and Val D'Or Farms, Perfect Sting won for the fourth time in nine starts this year and returned $3.00 to win.

"That's what we've been hoping for," said Holloway after the race. "He fought back like that when he was up against older horses."