In the world of Standardbred stakes racing where horses compete the week prior to qualify for a final, it is rare indeed for the public to be up in the air on which horse will be the favorite with the big money on the line. Yet this is where we will likely stand as post time approaches for the C$1,000,000 North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (June 17). Statistically it has been 16 years since the favorite in the North America Cup went off at 2-1 or higher. That occurred in 2007 when Tell All won as the 2.35-1 chalk. In the years since, 50 percent of the finals have included an odds-on favorite (under even money) and 40 horses have gone to the gate at odds north of 50-1. After four eliminations last weekend produced a quartet of equally impressive winners and a number of second and third-place finishers which performed admirably, 2023 could be a history-making year in terms of the price of the favorite and breadth of the odds. ♦ Get Free Harness Eye Past Performances for Saturday's Woodbine Mohawk Park card ♦ Read Garnet Barnsdale's full-card analysis for Saturday ♦ Analysis for $213,123 mandatory payout Hi-5 ♦ See handicapper selections for all stakes on Saturday ♦ Watch Derick Giwner & Jay Bergman break down the North America Cup field ♦ DRF BETS: Wager on Saturday's Woodbine Mohawk Park card at DRF Bets.com! For those looking to split hairs, It’s My Show was factually the fastest elimination winner as he stopped the clock in 1:48. Those in his corner will point to the final time and his unblemished (5-for-5) record this year. The naysayers could highlight the soft half-mile time of 55 seconds he put up in the elimination which allowed him to sprint home in 53 seconds for the easy victory. Though that argument is easily countered by the guts the gelded son of Sweet Lou has displayed in previous efforts. “The fractions were obviously in our favor. I took some aggressive steps forward leaving but it really wasn’t a tough 26 4/5 because we weren’t being challenged or re-moving,” said Zeron about the elimination effort before reviewing It’s My Show’s previous win at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:49 1/5 over a sizzling-fast track. “At Chester [Harrah’s Philadelphia] I left really hard, had to let someone go, then David popped the three-hole and I had to follow him. I only made the front heading into the next turn. I used him harder at Chester. I think Linda [Toscano] has been aiming to get him better and better for this race.” It’s My Show is trained by Hall of Famer Linda Toscano, who has won most of the sport’s biggest races but not the North America Cup. Zeron recently lifted the Cup trophy in 2019 with Captain Crunch and said It’s My Show has the intangibles to do quite well in these major stakes races versus talented competition. “Atlanta was the easiest trotter I’ve ever had to drive. If you thought it, she did it. If you thought she needed to slow down she just knew it and did it. You were just one with her. She was extremely robotic. This guy is the exact same way. I can leave an eighth in 11 seconds and go the next eighth in 18 seconds. He’s that easy to drive,” said Zeron, who will start from post two in the 11th race North America Cup final. Toscano has two chances in her quest to pick up her first North America Cup. She also sends out Fulton, a horse that one could certainly argue went the best elimination mile of the night in his 1:48 2/5 victory. The son of Heston Blue Chip – a former Toscano student – posted fractions of 25 4/5, 53 4/5 and 1:21 while being pushed hard through the third quarter with driver Dexter Dunn in the bike. Coming off an effort in the Somebeachsomewhere where he was out-finished in the late stages, it was certainly an eye-opening effort. Toscano’s husband and partner Brad McNinch pointed out that Fulton switched into neutral when he cleared to the front at the head of the stretch in the Somebeachsomewhere. That allowed Redwood Hanover to edge past Fulton in the late stages. “Linda decided to get the blinds [blind bridle] off him and switch to a kant see back bridle so at least he can see horses coming. That’s why she is in the Hall of Fame,” said McNinch. Showing confidence that Fulton can reproduce a similar effort, Dunn will stick with the colt over fellow elimination winner Christchurch, who he also drove to victory. Fulton starts from post four. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Certainly entering the year and perhaps leading into the North America Cup, Confederate has been at the top of the list of 3-year-old male pacers. The Kentucky Sire Stakes champion and Breeders Crown runner-up from 2022 certainly impressed in his first start of the year when defeating older foes with a 25 4/5 final quarter at the end of a 1:50 1/5 mile at The Meadowlands. The son of Sweet Lou followed that up by changing tactics and leading at every call in his 1:48 4/5 Cup elimination win. “Tactically [Confederate] can do whatever he wants. He doesn’t have any shackles around him and Timmy [Tetrick] knows he can do what he wants,” said Pelling. “I think I have the fastest horse. I don’t know if I have the most versatile.” While many people see the North America Cup as a wide-open affair, Pelling has a different viewpoint. “I think it is a two-horse race between him and It’s My Show,” said Pelling. [It’s My Show] came his back half last time in 53 [seconds]. He can leave, sit or do whatever he wants. He’s a real horse and has impressed me for a while. He’s not compromised by trip.” Tim Tetrick and Confederate start from one of the best posts on the Woodbine Mohawk park gate – five, which wins at just over 17%. Outside of trainer Nancy Takter, perhaps no one knew who Christchurch was coming into this year. That certainly changed in a hurry after he won at The Meadowlands in his first start of the year in 1:49 3/5. Now he is also a Cup elimination winner after a first-over performance where he dug in late to fend off an oncoming Voukefalas. A big son of Always B Miki who certainly doesn’t lack speed, it’s been the mental aspect of his game which Takter has been working to improve. The changes made prior to the elimination included a Simpson bit for the first time and an overcheck bit. The results were obvious, as after battling driver Dexter Dunn a bit in the beginning of the mile, Christchurch calmed down and was more relaxed. “He was much improved,” said Takter on Christchurch’s elimination behavior. “Obviously he’s less experienced than some of the other horses, that was only his second start of the year, but I think he’s going to move forward the most from that race. “He’s a very strong horse. If the pace is hot that will help him because he’s going to keep going. He doesn’t get tired. I would prefer him to be on the front but I’m sure a lot of people want to control the pace. He’s probably going to be like his dad was. My dad [Jimmy Takter] always told [driver] David [Miller] that he had to be at three quarters in 1:20 or 1:21 or he’ll get beat because they are not sprinters. A horse like Voukefalas, he’s a sprinter and a quick horse. Mine isn’t a Ferrari, he’s a Hummer.” ♦ Click here to read more about the NA Cup card and Harness Racing news Todd McCarthy picks up the drive on Christchurch from post three. Like Toscano, Takter has a pair of hopefuls with a serious shot at victory. She’ll also send out Save America from post nine. That son of Captaintreacherous was disappointing in his first start of the year but went a monster mile of 1:48 1/5 at Harrah’s Philadelphia in start two. The 180-degree turnaround was apparently brought about after gelding Save America. Now in a better frame of mind and body, Save America carried over his Philadelphia performance to the North America Cup eliminations and finished second, but not before some anxious moments when driver Yannick Gingras elected to remain in the three-hole rather than pull first-over. “I was watching it and thinking ‘I hope this is the right move’ because I didn’t want him coming in fourth and climbing over horses late. Yannick was very happy with him,” said Takter. “It makes me really happy that he did it from off the pace because obviously he won in 1:48 1/5 on the front, so that adds to his toolbox of versatility. “I think he is probably one of the sleepers in the race. I know people like to focus on horses that did something flashy, but he raced very well and I think he came the fastest last quarter of anyone who made the final.” The aforementioned Voukefalas was undefeated in 2023 and a heavy favorite against Christchurch in their elimination. Driver Jordan Stratton was making his way to the front shortly after the start when he made an uncharacteristic break. “My heart skipped a few beats there for a second,” said Stratton about the tense moments after the break by Voukefalas. “I think he shied away from tire tracks or something on the track. He used to wear a shadow roll as a 2-year-old and we took it off. He really hadn’t done anything this year but he’ll have it back on for the final.” Credit goes to Stratton for getting Voukefalas, who is trained by Michael Russo, back on stride quickly and settled down in fifth before picking up cover from Christchurch and racing gamely through the wire. “It’s unbelievable, he’s never supposed to make the final after that break, and to come back to lose by only a head is incredible,” said Stratton, who like many see a very deep and talented field in the final. “Whoever gets the cleanest trip is probably going to win.” Something in Stratton and Voukefalas’ favor on Saturday is post position. Despite getting the last available post, they drew the coveted six-hole which wins at over 20% at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Even the expected longshots in the C$1,000,000 final have a puncher’s chance: Ammo (post 10) has never finished worse than second this year. Moment Is Here (post one) clearly dealt with stretch traffic behind Christchurch while third. Redwood Hanover (post eight) made multiple moves and held his ground well in his third-place finish. Even Lyons Surfing, who will likely be the longest shot on the toteboard, was a very solid second behind Confederate in his elimination. Driver James MacDonald, who drove both Moment Is Here and Redwood Hanover (Dan Dube will drive Moment Is Here in the final) in the elimination round, summed it up nicely. “Yes, they are third-place finishers, but anyone who watched the eliminations wouldn’t be surprised if they won.” Nancy Takter agreed that this North America Cup could be one of the best races in the last 20 years. “I don’t think there is a horse to beat,” said Takter. “It is probably one of the best races in my memory from being a participant in races as far as being an even-matched field. I’m talking Breeders Crown races, Hambletonians, etc., I think this is the most competitive field that’s been assembled in a long time. I’m sure the bettors will appreciate that.” Perhaps adding to the intrigue for some is the possibility of history being set as the horses cross the wire for the North America Cup. When dealing with such a competitive field, it increases the possibility of a hot pace and the stakes record could certainly be in danger of falling. That mark is held by Captain Crunch (1:47 2/5). Post time for the North America Cup is estimated at 10:48 PM (EDT). The card also includes five other stakes-level races worth C$1.285 million and a $75,000 North America Cup consolation race. The first of 13 races will commence at 6:30 PM with one of two $100,000 guaranteed Pick 5 wagers (second is an all-stakes wager in race 7) and concludes with a mandatory payout of the $213,123 Hi-5 in the 13th race at approximately 11:50 PM.