Red Mile Racing

Showdown of “Mamba”, “Beau” & “Brandon” pushes North America Cup race record handle

Total of $687,448 wagered on NA Cup race tops 2015 record

from Mark McKelvie, for Woodbine Mohawk Park
(Michael Burns photo)

MILTON, ONT – Odds On Mr Mamba’s thrilling victory in the 43rd Pepsi North America Cup (G1) highlighted a tremendous 2026 event at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The highly anticipated showdown between top three-year-old pacers Odds On Mr Mamba, Brandon Blvd and Beau Jangles helped drive a North America Cup race record handle of $687,448, topping the previous record of $681,716 in 2015. The race handle was also up 25.5 per cent over last year.

The all-sources handle for the 13-race card was $5,610,228, the fourth highest ever. This year’s handle delivered a number that would rank at the top if you remove the effect of Jackpot Hi-5 mandatory payouts on Cup cards since 2016.

“We witnessed an incredible race on Saturday night,” said Michael Copeland, CEO of Woodbine. “The hype for this year’s race was the highest in recent memory and the horses, drivers, trainers, and connections all delivered.

“The energy onsite was excellent and that clearly was felt across the racing world by the record handle for the Cup race. Fans love stars and we love hosting the best of the best at Woodbine Mohawk Park.”

Odds On Mr Mamba edged Brandon Blvd and Beau Jangles in an epic stretch battle to win the 2026 $1 million Pepsi North America Cup. It was the first Cup win for James MacDonald, Woodbine’s leading driver in each of the past five seasons. Trainer Melanie Wrenn became the seventh woman to train a Cup winner, while owner Dana Parham’s Odds On Racing earned their first Cup win.

MacDonald’s dream night also included a victory in the $320,000 Roses Are Red (G1) with pacing mare Miki And Minnie. That victory gave trainer Chris Ryder three consecutive wins in the event.

Dexter Dunn, a five-time U.S. Driver of the Year award winner, had a terrific evening by winning three graded stakes, Goodtimes (G2), Armbro Flight (G2) and Mohawk Gold Cup (G3). Dunn in total won four races on the card.

The $420,000 Fan Hanover (G1) for three-year-old pacing fillies saw a memorable stretch duel go to Loua Dipa and driver Ronnie Wrenn by a head over the previously undefeated Be Perfect BG. The Ron Burke trained Loua Dipa has now won three Grade 1 races at Woodbine Mohawk Park after capturing the Shes A Great Lady and Breeders Crown in 2025.

Live racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park does not slow down following the Cup, as the Campbellville oval is set to add Thursdays to its racing schedule on June 25 and will race five-nights-a-week through October 12.

The remaining major race dates for 2026 are listed below:

Saturday, August 29

William Wellwood Memorial (G1)
Peaceful Way (G1)
Saturday, September 5

Canadian Pacing Derby (G1)
Maple Leaf Trot (G1)
Saturday, September 26

Mohawk Million (G1)
Metro Pace (G1)
Canadian Trotting Classic (G1)
Shes A Great Lady (G1)
Elegantimage (G1)
Saturday, October 3

Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Finals
Saturday, October 10

Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Super Finals
For the latest news and information on Woodbine Mohawk Park, visit Woodbine.com/Mohawk or follow across social media.

No eliminations needed for MGM Yonkers Trot, MGM Grand Messenger Stakes

from Yonkers Raceway Media
(Chris Tully file photo

Eliminations were not required for either the MGM Yonkers Trot or the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes, the opening leg of the Trotting and Pacing Triple Crowns for 3-year-old c**ts and geldings, and so the ten entered for the MGM Yonkers Trot and the seven that dropped in the box for the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes will advance directly to the Grade 2 finals on Friday, June 26 at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

Both finals will be raced at 1 1/4 miles, and the post position draws for the finals will be held on Monday, June 22. The companion filly races - the Park MGM Pace and New York New York Mile - will also be drawn then.

The MGM Yonkers Trot will carry a purse of $300,000 and will have eight horses on the gate plus two trailers. Here are the finalists in alphabetical order:

AI
Ardonne
Create Escape
Inexpressable
Kingmen
Nordic Dancer S
Requiem
Secured
Silverstein
Spencer Hanover

As for the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes, the purse will be $200,000 and the finalists are as follows, again in alphabetical order:

Al Papi
Apocalypsebluechip
Fragment
Frantic Hanover
Hunt Off The Press
Melillo
Mighty Matt

MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EDT). Tonight's (June 15) program features a $3,091.42 carryover and a $20,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick 5 in Race 5.

Brandon Blvd hopes to find path to victory in North America Cup

New Image Media photo.
Story by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager

Brandon Blvd will have to make history to win Saturday’s (June 13) C$1 million Pepsi North America Cup from post 10 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, but the c**t has made history before at the Ontario oval.

Last year, Brandon Blvd became the first 2-year-old pacer to win a race in Canada with a sub-1:49 mile when he captured his Breeders Crown elimination in 1:48.4 at Mohawk. And last week in his North America Cup elimination, he became the first horse to pass previously undefeated Beau Jangles in the stretch of any race, although he ultimately got nabbed in the final strides by Odds On Mr Mamba well to his outside.

Now, on Saturday, Brandon Blvd, with driver Dexter Dunn, will attempt to become the first horse to win the Grade 1 North America Cup from post 10. Over the past 32 years, when the event for 3-year-old pacers was moved to Woodbine (1994 through 2006), and since then to Mohawk, no horse has won the race from that outermost starting spot.

“Brandon Blvd had done a lot of firsts,” trainer Andrew Harris said at the North America Cup press conference following Tuesday’s draw. “If there’s any (other) firsts out there that he can accomplish, maybe this is it.”

Of course, it will not be easy. But six of Brandon Blvd’s nine career wins have come from off the pace, with three seeing him no better than fifth with a quarter-mile to go. Last year, he started from post 9 in a division of the International Stallion Stakes (G3) at the Red Mile and rallied from eighth after three-quarters to win by a head over Frantic Hanover in 1:49.1.

“He sat parked, with cover, that mile and he got it done,” Harris said Thursday. “I think that’s one of the strongest things about Brandon Blvd – he actually doesn’t need a specific type of trip. He’s won, literally, every single way there is to win. He’s won from the front, he’s done it first-up, he’s done it from off the pace. So, that is a huge asset. Obviously, you need things to go your way, but I don’t think that there’s a specific trip where he races better.”

Brandon Blvd, a son of Downbytheseaside-Alexis Faith, has nine wins and three seconds in 13 career races (with earnings of nearly $500,000) for the Punisher 11 Stable ownership group of Bill Po***ck, Bruce Areman, and Harris. He won Grade 3 stakes in his first two races this year – the Paul Revere Pace at Plainridge Park and the Somebeachsomewhere at Mohawk, which he captured in a stakes-record 1:48.1.

His next start was his North America Cup elimination this past Saturday, where he overtook Beau Jangles in deep stretch but was beaten by Odds On Mr Mamba by a neck in 1:48.2. The setback cost Brandon Blvd the opportunity to draw for a post position in spots 2 through 6 as an elim winner.

“I truthfully don’t think he saw Mr Mamba,” Harris said. “When he got by Beau, he thought the job was done and kind of let up a little bit. Me and Dex were talking, and we just firmly believe that the other one was out so wide, he just didn’t see him coming, not in enough time to get re-engaged anyways.

“The thing that’s tough now is that your destiny is tied to what everybody else does. That’s the hardest part for me. There’s not really a lot of taking your destiny into your own hands from (post 10). We’re not the biggest leaver in the race, so really what we need is a lot of action. If things worked out and we sat parked with cover, that would probably be the most ideal situation. But that said, there’s probably four or five horses that want the same thing; they want to trip-out.”

Beau Jangles, despite the first loss of his 16-race career last week, heads to the North America Cup as the 7-5 morning-line favorite. The 2025 Horse of the Year will leave from post 5 with Bob McClure driving for trainer Dr. Ian Moore. Odds On Mr Mamba, starting from post 3 with James MacDonald in the sulky for trainer Melanie Wrenn, is 9-5 followed by the event’s other elimination winner, Sweet Lovin Lou, at 9-2. Sweet Lovin Lou will leave from post 4 with Scott Zeron driving for trainer Dan Lagace.

Brandon Blvd is the fourth choice on the morning line, at 8-1.

“This is one of our signature races, and to be able to be part of one is great,” said Harris, a native of Ontario who has been based in the U.S. for a number of years. “But to be able to win one would be huge. For me, it would be everything. These are the races that put you on the map.”

The North America Cup is race 11 on Mohawk’s loaded Saturday card, which also includes the C$420,000 Fan Hanover (G1) for 3-year-old female pacers, C$320,000 Roses Are Red (G1) for older female pacers, C$240,000 Goodtimes (G2) for 3-year-old trotters, C$215,000 Armbro Flight (G2) for older female trotters and C$100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational Pace (G3).

Racing begins at 6:30 p.m. (EDT) Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

On To Norway brings win streak to Meadowlands for the Graduate Series

Dean Gillette Photography
Story by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager

On To Norway is on to the Big M, where the 4-year-old trotter will look to add another “W” to a win streak he launched in April 2025.

On To Norway, an Indiana-bred son of Muscle Massive-One Class Act, has won 26 consecutive races since finishing second in his seasonal debut last year. On Friday (June 12), the Ron Burke-trained gelding will face eight foes in a $50,000 second-round division of the Graduate Series, for 4-year-old trotters, at the Meadowlands.

Except for one win at the Indiana State Fair, all of On To Norway’s victories during his streak have come at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Those triumphs included the Grade 2 Carl Erskine Trot, Grade 3 Phil Langley Memorial and the Indiana Sire Stakes Super Final. After finishing last year with 23 straight wins, he has started this season 3-for-3.

For his career, On To Norway has won 30 of 36 races, finished second four times, and earned $693,381.

“For me, it’s exciting because I’m going to get to see him out on the East Coast now,” said Frank Baldachino, a New Jersey resident and co-owner of On To Norway. “It’s been a great run in Indiana and hopefully he can continue it for the next few weeks at the Meadowlands. He’s coming into the race (Friday) feeling good. It will be his first time over the racetrack, but I think he’ll really like going over the Meadowlands surface. So, I’m expecting a good performance from him.”

On To Norway will leave from post 8 in his nine-horse Graduate division, the second of the two splits, and is the 2-1 morning-line favorite. Yannick Gingras will be in the sulky, taking over for John DeLong, who drove On To Norway in his past 25 races.

Meshuggah, who won the Grade 1 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old male trotters last season, is the race’s 9-2 second choice in his seasonal debut. Dexter Dunn will drive Meshuggah for trainer Marcus Melander, leaving from post 6. The field also includes mare Delaney Hanover, who won last year’s Kentucky Filly Futurity (G1) for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Lucas Wallin, and also is making her seasonal debut. She is 5-1 on the morning line and will start from post 3.

“There’s a bunch of quality horses in that race, so he’s going to have to earn it,” Baldachino said about On To Norway. “No one is going to concede anything to him. But that’s how he’s liked it anyway; he’s earned every win that he’s got. Hopefully, Yannick can work out a trip and (On To Norway) is picking them up and putting them down coming to the wire and we can continue our streak.”

And just how important is the streak to Baldachino?

“It’s not that important, to be honest with you,” he said. “The health of the horse, the happiness of the horse, and the experience for the horse is most important. Last year was super exciting, but this is a new year, and he’s going to have to step up and race some really nice Grand Circuit horses that are top-notch. He’s not going to be able to win every race. As long as he’s healthy and sound, he’ll show up and represent really well. He’s going to have to elevate his game, but we all have confidence that he can.

“He’s so versatile, he can race any which way. He can race on the lead, he can race first-over, he can race off a helmet. That’s what makes him so special. And his will to win is beyond incredible; he’ll just chase down anything.”

Following Friday’s start, On To Norway will remain in New Jersey as the Meadowlands hosts the third round of the Graduate Series on June 20, the Graduate final (G2) on July 4, and the Hambletonian Maturity (G1) on July 11.

“We’ll get a lot better feel for what he can be in the next month,” said Baldachino, who shares ownership of On To Norway with Burke Racing Stable, Black And White Stable, and Michael Rosenthal. “We’re all excited to see him here.”

In the first of the two Graduate divisions for the trotters, returning Dan Patch Award-winner Super Chapter is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in his seasonal debut for driver Dunn and trainer Melander. He will leave from post 6 in a field of eight. Monserrate is the 7-2 second choice after winning the Graduate’s first round in 1:52 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. He will start from post 5 with Jason Bartlett driving for trainer Andrew Harris.

There also will be two $50,000 divisions of the Graduate’s second round for 4-year-old pacers on Friday plus $225,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Platinum finals for 3-year-old male and female trotters.

The NJSS Platinum final for the sophomore boys features a field of eight Hambletonian-eligible trotters, with Apex the 9-5 morning-line favorite followed by Diabolic Hill at 3-1 and American Power at 9-2. The final for the fillies features eight Hambletonian Oaks eligibles in a field of 10, with Naked And Famous and Jailbird Jog topping the morning line at 3-1 and 4-1, respectively.

Racing begins at 6:35 p.m. (EDT) at the Meadowlands.