And, the mystery winner is …
Everyone loves a good mystery, and that is what observers of the $1-million North America Cup will be dealing with tonight at Mohawk Racetrack.
It’s Canada’s richest race and there is no clear cut suspect favoured to win the race. In fact, there are three which should all contribute to it being a heck of a horse race.
Huntsville, an imposing threeyear-old from the New York stable of Ray Schnittker, has officially been granted the morning-line-favourite status but that is largely because of a very strong performance in last Saturday’s elimination heat. It was a softer field, though, and may not have been a true indicator.
Still, Huntsville is a model of consistency and his trainer has a highly desirable characteristic of making money with his horses. In 15 lifetime starts, Huntsville has never finished worse than second with $801,000 to prove it.
And importantly, Schnittker likes his horse ... a lot.
“A month ago, he got beaten by Fear The Dragon who was just tremendous on the night. My horse raced well but not good enough. There’s a lot to like about him and I’ve always liked racing in Canada, so maybe we’ll do some good,” he says.
Truth is, Schnittker is a fierce competitor and there is no question his horse will be as ready as he possibly can be.
However, there are two stumbling blocks, and both from the same stable. Ohioan, Brian Brown, has that same Fear The Dragon and Down by the seaside who will sandwich Huntsville from posts four and two. A telling factor may be that driver David Miller, who pilots both horses, has elected to go with Fear The Dragon.
“David did make the choice and it was because it’s clear that after last week’s eliminations, Fear The Dragon is the sharper of the two. He is a horse that just keeps doing whatever needs to be done to win,” says the affable Brown.
“He’s won all five starts this year and has made me like his breed which had not for a lot of years. He’s light on his feet, fast and healthy, so you have to give him the nod.”
Fear The Dragon was a pleasant sort of two-year-old but has blossomed this season.
Down by theseaside is a true mystery at this point despite winning all four of his appearances this season. “There’s something not quite right and we cannot find what it is. I’m leaning toward thinking that it’s mental because when he gets control of the race he just kind of lays back like it’s over. We’ve had him checked out and cannot find anything physically wrong with him but he just is not showing that sharpness up on the bit,” says Brown.
“Brian Sears will be driving this time. I’m afraid to change up much in the way of equipment because we don’t want to get him too fired up out there.
Down by theseaside has $858,000 banked, and he, too, is an example of great consistency.
So the mystery is who will show up at their very best tonight and find a way to get their nose in front. There are seven other starters but it would be a brave man to suggest any of them are capable of pulling an upset and it would be one of gigantic proportions.
The North America Cup, part of the year’s best card of racing, has a history of producing some great performances. Generally speaking, it has been one of those events that gets won by the best horse.
But with this particular threesome, that is the mystery.