Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Three North America Cup Elims

Yankee Skyscaper (Woodbine Racetrack)

Yankee Skyscaper & George Brennan

June 9, 2007

At Mohawk Raceway...Yankee Skyscaper captured the first of three North America Cup Eliminations Saturday at Mohawk Racetrack. Driven by George Brennan, the Chris Ryder-trained son of Artiscape came from seventh and last at the top of the lane to overhaul the favored Kenneth J, and tus stamp himself as the likely favorite for next week’s $1.5 million final.

The top-three finishers in each of the three eliminations, plus a fourth place finisher drawn by lot, will qualify for Canada’s richest harness race, next Saturday, to be contested at Mohawk for the first time in its 24 editions, when the finest 3-year-old pacers on the continent are showcased.

Yankee Skyscaper, who won last year’s C$1 million Metro Pace, also at Mohawk, at 8-1, had entered Saturday’s elimination off a second place finish, just a head behind Fresh Deck, in the $500,000 New Jersey Classic on June 2 at The Meadowlands.

“He raced real well,” Brennan said about his colt’s effort in the Classic. “Maybe I think he should have won but a good horse won, Fresh Deck. I can’t take anything away from him but my horse raced good, (too), a really good second.”

“(Tonight) At the top of the stretch, he was loaded. I thought he could get there. Going in, we (Ryder and Brennan) both thought we’d stick to the way we’ve been racing him. They’d be going at her pretty good (on the front end), we figured, so just try and pick up the pieces and get ourselves qualified for next week. Tonight, that was the plan.”

In the second $50,000 elim, Jody Jamieson made sure Tell All was heard from, unleashing a furious late kick putting away favorite The Quiet Mon (Andy Miller) in a lifetime best 1:50.4. "Last week with the nine hole we weren't too agressive, this week we had him closer," said Jamieson. "I just let him pull himself up near the end as we had them all beat."

1-9 choice Sutter Hanover (David Miller) crossed the line first in 1:50.4 in the third North America Cup Elim.

"He had to work a little harder to get the lead but he finished up alright," said David Miller after the win. "I like him a lot and he's still a bit green on the lead. Picking our spot in the final will be a big plus."

Sutter Hanover is now three-for-three as a three-year-old. The Dragon Again - Sami Cam colt is trained by Mark Harder for Deena Rachel Frost, Sampson Street Stables, Fox Hollow Farm and T L P Stable.

$50,000 North America Cup Elim Mohawk Raceway, Saturday, June 9, 2007
PP Horse                     Driver
6 Yankee Skyscaper      G Brennan
7 Kenneth J                   R Pierce
5 Watta Hotshot             J Campbell
3 Southwind Lynx           T Tetrick
2 Trueys Legacy            M Vanderkemp
4 In The Irons               Ph Hudon
1 Sergei Seelster           L Ouellette
26.1      54.2      1:22.2      1:50.2

$50,000 North America Cup Elim Mohawk Raceway, Saturday, June 9, 2007
PP Horse                        Driver
7 Quite Easy                    J Campbell
3 Celtic Warrior               S Condren
4 Arch Madness                T Smedshammer
1 Andover Mark                R Zeron
8 Relentless Duke             T Ritchie
5 Western Prayer              L Ouellette
6 Renaissance Man            P Macdonell
2 Rio Royal                       J Jamieson
28.2      58.2      1:27.3      1:56

$50,000 North America Cup Elim Mohawk RacewaySaturday, June 9, 2007
PP Horse                          Driver
6 Tell All                            J Jamieson
1 The Quiet Mon                A Miller
4 Glass Pack                      L Ouellette
5 Reserve Forces                J Jamieson
8 Whats Up Now                 L Ouellette
2*Kf St Patrick                    R Swartz
3 Laughing Art                     Ma Macdonald
7 Honky Tonk Hanover         B Sears
27        55.2           1:23.3           1:50.4