Woodbine Mohawk Park: Initial Road to the North America Cup released

Woodbine Entertainment today (5/12) released the initial "Road to the Pepsi North America Cup" rankings for the 39th edition of Canada's most prestigious harness race.

The $1 million Pepsi North America Cup is just over 5 weeks away (Saturday, June 18) and decisions already loom for the connections of the 48 eligible 3-year-old pacers. The final sustaining payment to the "Cup" is coming up on May 15 and nearly all eligible horses have qualified.

For many of the top local stars, this weekend marks the start of their 3-year-old campaign with the eliminations of the SBOA Stakes (Ontario Sired). South of the border, sires stakes action is either underway or set to begin in several states.

Mark McKelvie of Woodbine Entertainment annually provides the rankings on the "Road to the Pepsi North America Cup" and today shares his initial top-10 contenders. The rankings will be updated weekly leading up to the "Cup" eliminations on Saturday, June 11.

Road to the Pepsi North America Cup -- Top 10 (May 12, 2022)

1. Pebble Beach (Sire: Downbytheseaside -- Ohio)

Owners: Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco, Country Club Acres Inc, and Laexpressfoderadeovolente
Trainer: Noel Daley
Driver: Todd McCarthy

2022: 0-0-0-0, $0, 1:53Q (Meadowlands)
2021: 11-7-2-2, $361,250, 1:48.4 (Red Mile)

2. Gulf Shores (Sire: Downbytheseaside -- Ohio)

Owners: Country Club Acres Inc, Crossover Racing, and Wingfield Brothers LLC.
Trainer: Brian Brown
Drivers: Yannick Gingras, David Miller, Ronnie Wrenn Jr.

2022: 0-0-0-0, $0, 1:56.4Q (Scioto)
2021: 10-6-3-0, $493,967, 1:51.3 (Scioto)

3. Early Action (Sire: Huntsville -- New York)

Owners: Val D'Or Farms, and Ted Gewertz
Trainer: Joe Holloway
Driver: Brian Sears

2022: 0-0-0-0, $0
2021: 13-8-2-1, $442,817, 1:49.4 (Red Mile)

4. Stonebridge Helios (Sire: Sunshine Beach -- Ontario)

Owners: John Fleischman, Angie Stiller, and John Pentland
Trainer: John Pentland
Driver: Bob McClure

2022: 0-0-0-0, $0, 1:51.1 (Woodbine Mohawk Park)
2021: 7-4-2-1, $295,710, 1:51.4 (Woodbine Mohawk Park)

5. I Did It Myway (Sire: Captaintreacherous -- Pennsylvania)

Owners: Country Club Acres Inc, Joe Sbrocco, Don Latore, and Alagna And Fodera Racing
Trainer: Tony Alagna
Drivers: Tim Tetrick, Todd McCarthy

2022: 0-0-0-0, $0, 1:51.1 (Meadowlands)
2021: 8-5-0-1, $138,658, 1:50.3 (Red Mile)

6. Bob Loblaw (Sire: Sunshine Beach -- Ontario)

Owners: Ken Middleton Jr., David Walls, James Grant, and Starting Centre Stables
Trainer: Ken Middleton Jr.
Driver: Sylvain Filion

2022: 1-0-0-0, $1,050
2021: 12-3-0-3, $233,657, 1:52.4 (Woodbine Mohawk Park)

7. Beach Glass (Sire: Somebeachsomewhere -- Pennsylvania)

Owners: Schooner II Stable
Trainer: Brent MacGrath
Driver: Paul MacDonell

2022: 0-0-0-0, $0
2021: 5-3-1-0, $35,750, 1:51.1 (Woodbine Mohawk Park)

8. Night Hawk (Sire: Betting Line -- Pennsylvania)

Owners: Acadia Farms Inc., Joe Sbrocco, In The Gym Partners, and Leeman Lombardo Stable
Trainer: Brian Brown
Drivers: David Miller, Trace Tetrick

2022: 2-1-1-0, $22,894, 1:51.2 (Hoosier)
2021: 2-2-0-0, $54,219, 1:52 (Philadelphia)

9. Ario Hanover (Sire: Captaintreacherous -- Pennsylvania)

Owners: Kirk Nichols, Aws Stbs LLC., Joe Sbrocco, and Rich Lombardo Racing LLC.
Trainer: Brian Brown
Drivers: David Miller, John De Long, Cameron McCown

2022: 4-1-3-0, $27,744, 1:52.4 (Miami Valley)
2021: 1-0-0-0, $4,417

10. Greatest Ending (Sire: Somebeachsomewhere -- Pennsylvania)

Owner: Reginald Petitpas
Trainer: Dr. Ian Moore
Drivers: Dave Palone, Sylvain Filion, Tyler Moore, Bob McClure

2022: 1-1-0-0, $34,789, 1:51.2 (Meadows)
2021: 5-1-4-0, $23,000, 1:55.1Q (Woodbine Mohawk Park)

-edited release (Woodbine)