Lather Up named early 2-1 favourite for $1-million Pepsi North America Cup

McNair qualified Stay Hungry, last year’s Breeders Crown champion, for the final by rallying from third to win last weekend’s elimination race in 1:50. Lather Up, the fastest elim winner in 1:49.2, was installed as the early 2/1 favourite ahead of Stay Hungry at 5/2. Done Well, which suffered its first loss in six career starts after finishing second by a head to Stay Hungry, was the 4/1 third pick ahead of Stay Hungry (9/2), the other elimination victor.

Wes Delight’s handlers had the first pick of the draw and took the No. 3 position. McNair then selected the second spot before Lather Up’s trainer Clyde Francis settled upon No. 4.

“I think it (No. 2) is a good spot,” McNair said. “You can pick the trip, leaving the gate is kind of in your hands and where to put the horse.

“You’re on the inside and (being close to Wes Delight and Lather Up) really helps.”

The field and post positions for the race, with horse, driver and odds, include: 1) St Lads Neptune, Jody Jamieson, Moffat, Ont., 8/1; 2) Stay Hungry, McNair, 5/2; 3) Wes Delight, Corey Callahan, U.S., 9/2; 4) Lather Up, Montrell Teague, U.S., 2/1; 5) American History, Yannick Gingras, Sorel, Que., 10/1; 6) Lost In Time, Scott Zeron, Oakville, Ont., 12/1; 7) Done Well, Tim Tetrick, U.S., 4/1; 8) Nutcracker Sweet, David Miller, U.S., 15/1; 9) Hayden Hanover, Andy Miller, U.S., 20/1; 10) Hitman Hill, Brett Miller, U.S., 20/1.

Miller will be vying for a third straight Cup win Saturday night.

Jamieson, a two-time North America Cup champion, drove St Lads Neptune to second behind Lather Up last weekend. The 2007 and ’11 race winner was quite happy about starting on the rail Saturday night.

“It’s the shortest way around,” he said. “The shortest distance between two points is a straight line and I’m going to be on as straight a line as possible from the rail.

“But this is why we jog and train horses and work them in the winter and freeze our tails off. We get to come here and talk to you guys (media) about a horse we have in the North America Cup.”

Also on Saturday’s card will be the $415,000 Fan Hanover for three-year-old pacing fillies, $370,000 Roses Are Red for pacing mares, $266,000 Goodtimes for three-year-old trotters and $250,000 Armbro Flight for trotting mares.

Stay Hungry was a Winter-Book favourite for the ’18 Cup after winning six-of-nine starts last year and being named Canada’s top two-year-old pacing colt. Stay Hungry has won seven-of-11 career starts and earned over $588,000.

“He’s versatile, you can do whatever you want with him,” McNair said. “He’s really fast but he’s easy on himself.

“In the post parade and before the race a kid could jog him. He’s just a real friendly horse but he knows as soon as he goes behind the gate it’s time to race. His trip is obviously better off the pace, he’s shown that in the past and hopefully it will work out that way.”

Stay Hungry’s trainer Tony Alagna won this event in 2013 with Captaintreacherous.

But Francis and Teague will both be seeking redemption Saturday night after finishing second in 2015 with Wiggle It Jiggleit. Lather Up comes into the Cup having won all five races it’s run so far this season.

“Adds more pressure (winning elimination),” Teague said. “You got to make sure the horse is healthy, make sure I do my job, make sure he does his job.

“I had the best horse in 2015 and I got beat, so you never know.”

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Lather Up named early 2-1 favourite for $1-million Pepsi North America Cup

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