Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

North American Cup Elims Saturday Night
Field Set for $1.5 Million Stake
Jeremes Jet won the final spot into next Saturday night’s $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup by virtue of a draw among the fourth-place finishers. The ten 3-year-old pacing colts in this year’s Cup field are, in alphabetical order: Bono Bests, Dave Panlone, Doonbeg, Feelin Friskie, Fox Valley Tribal, Impeccable, Jeremes Jet, Perfect Union, Total Truth and Western Ace. The connections of the three elimination winners, Dave Panlone, Doonbeg and Feelin Friskie will select their posts at the post position draw on Tuesday.

Feelin Friskie Takes First NA Cup Elim
Feelin Friskie and driver John Campbell captured the first of three $50,000 Pepsi North America Cup eliminations at Woodbine Saturday night. Feelin Friskie, who got away fourth behind Total Truth, Jeremes Jet and Ideal Michael, made a big move after a second opening quarter of :54.3. Campbell had the three-year-old Artiscape colt in front of Jeremes Jet and Bono Bests when the field got to the three quarter mark in 1:22, and they held off a very strong late effort by Total Truth for the win in 1:49.4, three-fifths of a second off the colt's lifetime mark. Total Truth got up for second, Bono Bests was third and Jeremes Jet hung on for fourth.

"I was very happy with him, every time you jump from sires stakes to open company it is a tough transition," Campbell said. "I thought he could make the jump. He's raced well on the front before and tonight he held serve through the stretch. He had all he wanted, but that's a big mile. His consistency is his best weapon."

Feelin Friskie, who is trained by Scott Bell, now has three wins and one second in four starts this year for owner Wayne Eric Whebby of Dartmouth, N.S.

$50,000 North America Cup Elim
PP Horse                   Driver
1 Feelin Friskie            J Campbell
7 Total Truth              Ron Pierce
6 Bono Bests              David Miller
4 Jeremes Jet             P MacDonell
3 Armbro Deuce         Jack Moiseyev
2 Ideal Michael           L Ouellette
5 Manhardt               G Brennan
26.1      54.3      1:22      1:49.4

Doonbeg Nails Second NA Cup Elim
Doonbeg captured the second $50,000 N.A. Cup elim for driver Jody Jamieson. The sophomore son of Camluck-St Mattricks Way was fifth on the outside after opening fractions of :27.1 and 55.3 and made a brush to the front before the third quarter. Western Cyclone was in front at the top of the stretch but Doonbeg dug in and powered past him for the win in a lifetime best 1:51.4 over Western Ace and Fox Valley Tribal.

"The trip really worked out," Jamieson said. "Last week he paced hard all the way home. Tonight I covered him up and swung him coming off the final turn. He really kicked home. I don't think he was tired finishing up. He's a real good horse. We got lucky tonight and hopefully he'll get some luck next week. You always need luck to beat these types of horses. It's a big thrill to be racing in the Cup. I got to watch Mark MacDonald race in it last year and it will be a big thrill for me to race in it this year."

Trained by James "Friday" Dean, Doonbeg improved his mark by two-fifths of a second and scored his second win in three starts this year for owners Clay Hartland Horner of Ontario, Torlando Farms Inc. of Florida and Scott Horner of Ontario.

$50,000 North America Cup Elim
PP Horse                Driver
1 Doonbeg                J Jamieson
8 Western Ace           Ron Pierce
6 Fox Valley Tribal      David Miller
4 Mr Feelgood           Ma MacDonald
3 Western Cyclone    Brian Sears
5 Artstanding           Mike Lachance
2 Joe To Go              L Ouellette
7 Gran Sasso           J Campbell
27.1      55.3      1:23.2      1:51.4

Dave Panlone Wins Third NA Cup Elim
Dave Panlone and driver Dave Miller won the third $50,000 N.A. Cup elim in 1:51.1. Miller and the son of The Panderosa got away fourth and made their attack after an opening quarter of :26.3, which was set by Lucky Point Blank. Miller and Dave Panlone had to settle for second beside Took Hanover and the duo managed to stay in the game after Took Hanover made a break. Perfect Union finished second with Impeccable third and Armbro Dynamic fourth with a shot at the final.

"Tonight was the first time I ever sat behind Dave Panlone," Miller said. "They told me the best trip was to get him on the lead. That trip didn't work out, but he was gutsy. He paced and fought hard every step of the way. However, I'm going with Bono Bests in the final."

Trained by James Russell Arledge, Dave Panlone now has a new lifetime mark and is perfect in three starts this year for owners James Stambaugh of Wauseon and Milton Leeman of Blacklick, Ohio.

$50,000 North America Cup Elim
PP Horse                 Driver
3 Dave Panlone          David Miller
4 Perfect Union          George Brennan
1 Impeccable            Ra Waples
6 Armbro Dynamic    Rick Zeron
8 Fox Valley Appeal Brian Sears
7 Took Hanover       John Campbell
2 Lucky Point Blank   C Christoforou
5 Sinister Hall           C Christoforou
26.3     55      1:21.4      1:51.1