Last year two sons of Sweet Lou captured the attention in the North America Cup, with It's My Show turning back eventual Horse of the Year Confederate in a thriller. This year, accompanying the North America Cup on the Woodbine Mohawk Park program, two more sons of Sweet Lou will hit the surface for the first time during their careers in the C$100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup. The varied distances traveled to get here make it rather unique that Oakwood Ardan (Ireland) and Bonniprinclouis (New Zealand-bred but Australia-raced) meet in Ontario as they face proven North American mainstays in what could be one of the best races Saturday night. Oakwood Ardan has been an imposing figure at the Meadowlands this winter for trainer Robert Cleary, who has had an impeccable touch at bringing horses over from his native Ireland and seeing them win with regularity in New Jersey and beyond. Oakwood Ardan has been the best of a solid group, with seven wins in eight tries this year, including a personal-best 1:48 clocking on May 18 at the Meadowlands. "He finished with the [ear] plugs in," said Cleary, commenting on the victory. Two weeks later Oakwood Ardan would track down Allywag Hanover in the deep stretch for regular pilot Andrew McCarthy. "I really wasn't surprised," said Cleary of the 1:48 3/5 effort overtaking the pace-setter Allywag Hanover. "He just loves chasing down horses." Cleary has been impressed enough by Oakwood Ardan's early-season efforts and staked him heavily for the coming months. While Saturday's Mohawk Gold Cup is an invitational, Oakwood Ardan could be back later in the year for the Canadian Pacing Derby. He's eligible to all of the big races at the Meadowlands, as well as Kentucky and the Breeders Crown. It's an understatement to suggest that Oakwood Ardan hasn't exceeded expectations, but Cleary had an idea what he was getting. "He's a horse with extremely high speed that was racing on half-mile tracks that didn't suit him," said Cleary of his 5-year-old speedster. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter On Saturday, Oakwood Ardan drew post eight, outside many of his chief rivals, but inside Allywag Hanover (post 10). "He's going to have to get away closer to the action," Cleary said, with the implication that despite his horse's late-race heroics he has the tactical speed if necessary to play in the early parts of a race. From the Southern Hemisphere, Bonniprinclouis made his North American debut on May 31 at The Meadows for trainer Ron Burke and turned a hopeless situation into a victory with a brisk final eighth of a mile for driver David Miller. A 7-year-old son of Sweet Lou, Bonniprinclouis was partially sold to Burke's ownership partners, with an interest held by Australian Jamie Durnberger-Smith. "I know he's crazy quick," said Durnberger-Smith. "His gate speed is so insane. That's his biggest asset, so it'll be interesting. Either way it'll be fun to be in it." Bonniprinclouis took a 1:50 1/5 record over The Meadows five-eighths surface and appears to have the speed to contend, though it's unlikely he’s been up against this quality before. The Mohawk Gold Cup has a solid field, with Abuckabett Hanover (post three) returning to top form for trainer Andrew Harris. Last week the 6-year-old posted a 1:49 3/5 mile in capturing a Preferred Handicap over this surface. Dexter Dunn has the assignment behind the career winner of over $1.3 million. Taurasi (post five) has won nine of his 11 starts while racing primarily over this surface through the winter for leading trainer Richard Moreau. The Ohio-sired son of Racing Hill took a 1:47 2/5 career mark last year at the Meadowlands. Coaches Corner has been another pleasant surprise in the older events this year for trainer Per Engblom. With over $400K banked this season, with much of the earnings coming in this year's MGM Borgata Pacing Series at Yonkers Raceway, Coaches Corner ventured outside New York for his last two starts, a third-place finish in the Auger at Harrah's Philadelphia (May 26) and a solid second behind Little Rocket Man in last Saturday's (June 8) Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park. Allywag Hanover won this race in 2021 when it was contested in September and will try for his second title this year on the traditional mid-June date. Allywag Hanover has finished fourth and third in his two starts to date for trainer Brett Pelling and will have to overcome the outside against this talented field. Regular pilot Todd McCarthy drives Allywag Hanover, a career earner of nearly $2.4 million with world championship credentials. Rounding out the entire field for the Mohawk Gold Cup, race eight on the stakes-laden Woodbine Mohawk program, will be Blue Hunt (post one), Buzzsaw Russ (post seven) and Saulsbrook Victor (post nine). Post time is 6:30 P.M. (EDT).