Woodbine Mohawk Park: Favorites rule in Pepsi North America Cup elims

Pebble Beach and Beach Glass will head into next Saturday night's C$1 million Pepsi North America Cup for 3-year-old male pacers at Woodbine Mohawk Park with momentum on their side after annexing the two C$50,000 eliminations on Saturday night.

In the first elimination Market Based (Dexter Dunn) led to the 27 second opening quarter, but Night Hawk (David Miller) attacked out of third past that station and cleared Market Based just after the 55 1/5 half. Todd McCarthy then gave Pebble Beach his marching orders first-up from fourth on the far turn, and he advanced into second going to the 1:23 1/5 three-quarters.

Night Hawk turned for home first after initially staving off Pebble Beach's bid, but Pebble Beach wore him down in mid-stretch for good and then pulled clear for a 1 1/2 length victory in 1:49 4/5. Night Hawk held second over Mad Max Hanover (Tim Tetrick), with Frozen Hanover (Louis-Philippe Roy) and Kolby Two Step (James MacDonald) also going through to the final.

"I was first-over a fair way out, and I was a little concerned about it, but he handled himself really well, and when I asked him at the top of the lane, he had plenty there," said McCarthy. "I describe him as a little dude. He's such a cool horse to be around, and he's got a lot of characteristics. He's a lot of fun to drive. Full credit to Noel (trainer Noel Daley) and the team, they're doing a terrific job with him, and he's a lot of fun to sit behind right now."

A Downbytheseaside colt bred by Brittany Farms, Pebble Beach is trained by Daley for owners Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco, Country Club Acres Inc., and the Laexpressfoderadeovolente contingent. Pebble Beach has a record of 9-3-2 from 14 lifetime tries, and he has now earned C$431,750. The 4-5 choice, he paid $3.90 to win.

Beach Glass, who was picking up Yannick Gingras in the bike for the first time, won on the lead in the second elim. Starting from the outside post eight, he moved up on the outside to go by I Did It Myway (Tetrick) after the 26 3/5 opening quarter. Beach Glass sailed through a 55 2/5 half and a 1:23 3/5 three-quarters, then kicked home in 27 2/5 to tally by three-quarters of a length in 1:51. I Did It Myway was the runner-up, following by a fast-finishing Ario Hanover (David Miller). Ron (Jody Jamieson) and Fourever Boy (Mike Wilder) also moved on to the final.

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"He was good. He's a very green horse. Yannick said he was waiting on the horses a little bit and he had to shake him up," remarked winning trainer Brent MacGrath. "We were feeling that was happening in the last couple of starts. He really needed this race bad. He needed to get stretched out like he did there tonight and woke up a littie bit.

"That's only his seventh lifetime start, and those colts that he raced there tonight have 20 starts, a lot of them. He'll be a different horse, I believe, next week."

From the last crop of Somebeachsomewhere, Beach Glass is a colt bred and owned by Schooner II Stable, who also campaigned his sire. Beach Glass has won four of his seven starts, has now pocketed C$80,750, and returned $3.60 to win as the 4-5 choice.

The draw for the Pepsi North America Cup final will take place at a press conference on Tuesday.