Woodbine Mohawk Park: McCarthy hopes to have a NA Cup 'Beach' party

For 29-year-old Todd McCarthy, just being in the North America Cup is a big deal. For 29-year-old Todd McCarthy, just being in the North America Cup is a big deal.

"Growing up as a fan you watched all the big races and dreamed of being in them," McCarthy said. McCarthy dreamed from afar but on Saturday he'll be up close and behind morning-line favorite Pebble Beach as the pair set their sights on the C$1 million sophomore pacing event at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Pebble Beach, the faster of the two elimination winners this past Saturday (June 11), was allowed to pick second after Beach Glass chose post four in Tuesday's draw. Pebble Beach chose post five in the middle of the 10-horse field that will afford his driver a clear view of all participants and a way to plot strategy.

"He's an easier horse to drive this year," said McCarthy, who indicated that Pebble Beach, a colt from the first crop of Downbytheseaside, has matured from his freshman to sophomore season.

► Get Saturday's full-card analysis at Woodbine Mohawk Park

► View analysis and tickets for Saturday's $548,692 carryover Hi-5 mandatory payout

► Get free past performances for Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park

In last week's elimination race McCarthy knew what he was in for racing Pebble Beach from off the pace. "I kind of knew when I got out of there that I was going to be first-up," said McCarthy. "He was feeling very strong on the final turn, but I didn't want to let him go too early."

McCarthy's patience in the bike has been a signature of his rise up the ladder among North America's best drivers. In this just his third year since arriving he's commanding some of the best horses in training from leading conditioners.

"I think he's coming into the race in great shape," said McCarthy of the Noel Daley-trained colt that has captured nine of his 14 career starts to date, including two consecutive stakes victories at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

While McCarthy is confident in his charge, it is clear from listening to a few others in the race that he is not alone. Trainer Brian Brown for instance will have two horses in the final starting next to each other in Ario Hanover (post six) and Night Hawk (post seven). Brown was in a similar position with his pair of Fear The Dragon and Downbytheseaside back in 2017 when they finished first and third in the North America Cup.

"Finishing first and third again would be fine with me," said Brown in an optimistic tone.

Brown's Night Hawk entered last week's trials off a 1:48 4/5 career-best effort in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action and the trainer was happy with his second-place finish behind Pebble Beach.

"You don't want to give everything away in the elimination and have nothing left for the final," said Brown. "We're going to put a shadow roll back on him like he wore in the Pocono [Sire Stakes] race. I don't like putting shadow rolls on my horses, but he might have seen something at the head of the stretch last week that made him lose focus."

Night Hawk, a son of Betting Line, has won three of his five starts as a sophomore, finishing second on the other two occasions.

Stablemate Ario Hanover was a strong closing third in his trial last week and Brown has chosen Dexter Dunn for the driving assignment this week with David Miller sticking with Night Hawk.

"He was training right with Night Hawk last year when he got hurt. Both had the same injury, a bone bruise above the ankle in their left hind," Brown said. "He's raced well in every race so far. We scoped him after his second-place finish in the Sire Stakes [May 30] and he had a high white blood count. He was much better last week."

Both Night Hawk and Ario Hanover enter the North America Cup with just seven lifetime starts and the lack of experience doesn't scare the trainer. "Beach Glass has seven starts also," Brown said, pointing to the likely second choice in the event.

Beach Glass brings trainer-owner Brent McGrath back to the North America Cup 14 years after capturing the race with the colt's sire, the incomparable Somebeachsomewhere.

"There's a lot less pressure this time," said McGrath at Tuesday's press conference. The trainer was happy with the performance of Beach Glass, with Yannick Gingras making his first start behind the colt in last week's trial. "He's going to need to pick up a few seconds," said McGrath, "But I think he can."

Beach Glass paced to a 1:51 career-best mile in his elimination victory. "He got a little sleepy on the front late, but he responded when Yannick asked him. I think that race will serve him well."

For McCarthy, the night could culminate in the eleventh race C$1 million North America Cup but he'll have plenty to sit behind prior to that, including a very talented filly in the C$401K Fan Hanover stakes (race 8) for 3-year-olds named Wickedly Innocent.

"Last week was a big test up in class for her," said McCarthy. "I believe she passed it."

Wickedly Innocent and McCarthy carved out a nice cover trip and looked to be going on to victory in the deep stretch before Silver Label and James MacDonald rolled by them late in the stretch.

"The track was a little loose and that's not the kind of surface she likes," said McCarthy, who is hoping for better conditions this week. "I think the post will work out well for her."

Wickedly Innocent drew the rail in the competitive 10-horse field with elimination winner and stablemate Treacherous Dragon selecting post three and Silver Label choosing post four in the field.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

The Fan Hanover is top-heavy in talent, with Ontario's finest Prohibition Legal (post two) starting to round into form in what will be her fourth start of the season. Last year Prohibition Legal won eight of her nine starts, with her lone defeat at the hands of Dan Patch winner Niki Hill in the She's A Great Lady.

Ohio-bred Sea Silk, another from the exciting first crop of Downbytheseaside, was a solid third in her Fan Hanover elimination last week for trainer Ron Burke and driver Chris Page. A nine-time winner in 11 starts as a 2-year-old, Sea Silk made her first start outside the U.S. last week and should benefit from the trip over the track. Sea Silk landed post six.

Trainer Tony Alagna also has a pair of fillies in the race with Queen Of Success and Boudoir Hanover, daughters of his 2013 North America Cup champion Captaintreacherous, lining up from posts seven and nine, respectively.

McCarthy enjoyed tremendous success last year with the Dan Patch winner for older pacing horses Allywag Hanover, a prized mount.

"I was very happy with his race last week," McCarthy said of Allywag Hanover, who finished second behind Bulldog Hanover in an Open event on the June 11 Woodbine Mohawk Park card. "Bulldog got away from him on the turn and went a big mile. I kind of thought when he got separation that Allywag might get tired in the stretch, but he didn't and finished the mile off nicely," said McCarthy.

Allywag Hanover drew post four in the C$100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup, an invitational that attracted a stellar field for the fifth of 13 races on the program.

"He had a couple of qualifiers in 1:50 and then got into a [1]:48 mile right out of the box," said McCarthy. "I think it was good for him."

Allywag Hanover will have company as he looks for his first win as a 5-year-old with the comeback kid Jimmy Freight rising rapidly in the rankings after some huge efforts over last two months. Jimmy Freight (post three) has won 10 races in 2022 including the Camluck Classic (May 27). He was also an eye-catching second in the Battle Of Lake Erie last week (June 11) at Northfield while overcoming a parked-the-mile journey from post eight and narrowly losing in a 1:49 2/5 effort over the half-mile oval.

Also included in the field is the upset winner in the Battle of Lake Erie and Borgata Pacing Series final Funatthebeach N (post eight) as well as Juravinski champion Linedrive Hanover (post seven) and a resurgent Workin Ona Mystery (post five).

McCarthy also picks up a drive behind Gigondas for trainer Tony Alagna in the C$251,000 Goodtimes (race 7) for sophomore trotters.

"Todd drove him in the Breeders Crown," said Alagna, who also sends out likely favorite Fast As The Wind from post four. "I think with the draw [Gigondas] could be in a good spot to get money."

While he'll have his work cut out for him, McCarthy also drives Amazing Dream N from post 10 in the C$315,000 Roses Are Red final (race 10) versus two impressive elimination winners in Test Of Faith (post two) and Lyons Sentinel (post three).

McCarthy picked up the drive on longshot Amazone Duharas in the C$211,000 Armbro Flight (race 9), but the attention will be on Bella Bellini (post three), as she will try to best former Armbro Flight champions Atlanta (post seven), When Dovescry (post one) and Hey Livvy (post 10).

Racing begins with an early 6:30 PM E.D.T. start time and includes a pair of $100,000 guaranteed Pick 5 wagers in the first and seventh races. The 13th race finale offers a $548,692 mandatory payout Hi-5 pool.