‘Up’ in the Cup
CAMPBELLVILLE, ON--Up The Credit (W estern Terror) scored a thrilling victory in the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack in front of a raucous Campbellville crowd.
Roll With Joe (Cams Card Shark) rolled out quick from the gate for Randy Waples, but the duo were content to sit in the pocket as Powerful Mist (Powerful Toy) and Dave Miller took command from the inside. The lead didn’t last long as Brett Miller surged to the front with 9-5 favourite Big Bad John (W estern Hanover) ticking the opening quarter in :26.2. With the field jostling for position down the backstretch, Jamieson and Up The Credit advanced first up from post position two.
Miller and Big Bad John notched fractions of :55.2 and 1:22.3, but Up The Credit wore them down through the stretch, while holding off a late surge from Roll With Joe and the fast-closing Big Jim, who traveled third over, to score in 1:49.3.
“It’s unbelievable,” exclaimed an elated Jody Jamieson. “I just want to show all the fans here that this is the 2011 Pepsi N.A. Cup champion right here, take a good look.” It was Jamieson’s second winning drive in the North America Cup, having won previously with the Blair Burgess trainee Tell All.
The driver was not concerned with Up The Credit’s first up trip on this evening. “He’s just an amazing horse,” said Jamieson “He’s been proving it all along. I said at the draw I think my horse could go anywhere, first-over, on the front, it didn’t matter.”
Roll With Joe, who finished second to Big Bad John in last week’s elimination, put in an inspired performance behind the winner. “I’m very happy. Every time you finish second, you think there is something you could of done to win,” said driver Randy Waples. “He didn’t get raced hard and (trainer) Ed Hart had him really good. I thought Brett (driving Big Bad John) would leave with his horse, and I was hoping at some point I could get my horse back on the front, because I thought he was ready to go a big mile on the front right now. At the end of the day, I couldn’t be happier.”
Elimination winner Big Bad John, who faded to finish fifth, apparently had trouble with the fast track, but will be back to fight again, according to his trainer.
“When the half finished up in :55 and change, I thought we were good to go,” said Ron Potter. “Brett (driver) said this horse was struggling over the track for some reason. Last week he said the horse was really good and the track was fast. We’ll go home and figure him out and get him ready for next week.”
Up the Credit Streaks to Victory WEG Communications