Woodbine Mohawk Park: Desperate Man defeats big names in Pepsi North America Cup

Desperate Man, sent off at 7-1, worked out a second-over trip behind Perfect Sting and pounced in the stretch to win the C$1 million Pepsi North America Cup for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park in 1:49 3/5.

Rockyroad Hanover (Dexter Dunn) sped out from post nine and had the early lead, but elimination winner and 3-5 favorite Bulldog Hanover (Jody Jamieson) drove on two-wide and landed on the point after a tepid opening quarter of just 27 3/5. When Bulldog Hanover got to the half in a sensible 55 1/5, it looked like it was going to be tough work for the closers, but Perfect Sting (David Miller) had begun to move up first-over from fourth, and Desperate Man, driven by Trevor Henry, gladly followed his tow.

Bulldog Hanover remained in command around the last turn, and the tempo increased to 1:22 at three-quarters. Jamieson still looked confident behind his charge, even though Perfect Sting had marched up to within half a length of him. Desperate Man continued to track Perfect Sting, and Rockyroad Hanover was waiting for clearance in the two-hole.

In the lane Jamieson called on Bulldog Hanover to seal the deal, but by mid-stretch it was clear that he just didn't have his "A" game tonight as Perfect Sting forged his way by. It wouldn't be Perfect Sting's night either, though, as Desperate Man was in full flight to his outside, and Desperate Man powered by on his way to the win by three-quarters of a length. Perfect Sting had to settle for second again, and Whichwaytothebeach (Sylvain Filion) closed well after taking a shuffle from the three-hole and fanning out in the lane. Bulldog Hanover faded to fourth, and Rockyroad Hanover checked in fifth.

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"I had to get away better than I what I did last week (in the elimination). I had to have him forwardly-placed, and he's a little tricky behind the car. He's funny. Last week, he kind of ran behind the gate. I got him back pacing. I didn't want to rush him off his feet. I was just interested in making the final," said Henry. "Tonight, I said, 'we've got to have him closer. If he makes a mistake, he makes a mistake, but we've got to be closer.'

"It feels great. These people deserve it. They've been in the business in the long time and had some hard times. They got lucky to get this horse. I started at the bottom and now I won the biggest one, so it's been great."

Trainer Kathy Cecchin also co-owns Desperate Man, a gelded son of Shadow Play bred by Winbak Farm, with her husband John, their daughter Nicole Davies, and her husband Paul Davies. Desperate Man, who sold for $20,000 at the 2019 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, ended up being a wedding gift for Paul and Nicole, as they chose half-ownership of him over a downpayment on a new house. Desperate Man has a record of 5-4-2 from 15 career starts, and he pushed his earnings to C$853,014. He returned $17.20 to win.

"It's always nice to win, but to be honest with you, last week was the pressure week. For me, $8,000 is a lot of money, and when I got it back, everything's gravy," remarked John Cecchin. "Maybe the kids will use their share pretty good.

"He's a special horse. We've had a lot of nice horses over the years, but nothing that makes money like this one. Hopefully, the game plan is, he's a Saturday night horse for two or three years, and after that we'll buy him a saddle and ride him."