Post time for the 25th edition of the Cup, the richest harness race in North America, with the winner receiving $750,000, is 9:40 pm. The Score will air a one and one-half hour telecast nationally from 8:30 * 10:00 pm ET.

Post positions were determined today at Mohawk, with Steve Stamkos of the Sarnia Sting, the projected number one pick in the upcoming National Hockey League player draft, as guest drawmaster.

The connections for the three elimination winners last Saturday earned the right to select their post positions first before the balance of the field was drawn. Deuce Seelster’s name was drawn first and his connections selected post three, followed by Somebeachsomewhere (PP2), then Badlands Nitro (PP4).

The top three finishers in each elimination qualified for the final, plus one fourth place finisher drawn by lot. Thirteen of the previous 24 Cup winners also scored in their eliminations.

Somebeachsomewhere (PP2, 8-5), co-owned and trained by Brent MacGrath of Truro, Nova Scotia, was awesome last year and has continued to amaze this year. In 2007, the son of Mach Three won all six starts, including a world record performance in the $1 million Metro Pace, when scoring in 1.49.3 en route to banking $812,592 for owner Schooner Stables of Bible Hill, Nova Scotia. The $40,000 Lexington Select yearling purchase also won the Battle of Waterloo and divisions of the Champlain and Nassagaweya.

This year, Somebeachsomewhere has been limited to just two starts, after suffering a bruised foot in early May. He debuted in a Burlington division, winning in 1:51.3, then last Saturday blazed to a career best 1:49 clocking in his Cup elimination, more than a second faster than the other elim winners, scoring by two lengths under wraps with driver Paul MacDonell, who is looking for his first Cup win.

No undefeated horse has ever won the Pepsi North America Cup.

“This was only his second start, with no training,” said MacGrath, immediately after the elim. “If I can train him (this week), he’ll be that much stronger. He’s a champion horse. I think you’ll even see him a little sharper (this Saturday). I would guess he’s around 80% right now but he’s always worked through any problem he’s had.”

MacGrath said at today’s post position draw that he expects to be able to train Somebeachsomewhere on Thursday.

Commented MacDonell, after the draw, “It’s not what I’m going to do, it’s what everyone else is going to do. With the two hole, at least you have some control.”

Second choice Badlands Nitro (PP4, 4-1), driven by Brian Sears, is unbeaten in four starts this year, including the Hempt Final at Pocono Downs on May 24 and his Cup elimination on June 7, in which he defeated Keystone Horatio and Santanna Blue Chip in a stiff stretch drive by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:50.1.

Co-owned by his breeder John Celii of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania and trainer George Teague of Harrington, Delaware, Badlands Nitro also enjoyed an excellent juvenile campaign, winning six of eight starts. Sears won the 2005 Cup with Rocknroll Hanover while Teague campaigned 2006 winner Total Truth.

“I’m just glad to have had the chance to pick (a post),” said Teague, Jr. “It’s a quality field, that’s for sure. I don’t know if this gives us an edge but it’s better than the 10 hole.”

Deuce Seelster (PP3, 8-1), to be driven by record six-time Cup winner and Hall of Famer John Campbell, upset Dali to win his elimination by a neck in 1:50.3, his first win of the season after finishing second twice, including a runner-up finish to Keystone Horatio in a Burlington division May 31.

Trained by Darren McCall for owner Katherine Bardis of Sacramento, California, Deuce Seelster came up aces last year in the Ontario Sires Stakes program, winning three Gold Finals and the Super Final, while amassing $636,579 from nine wins and two seconds in 12 starts.

Campbell’s last Cup win came in 1999 with The Panderosa.

“I’m very happy to have had first pick,” said McCall. “I talked to John (Campbell) about what he preferred, and he said if we had first choice, he wanted post position three. Otherwise, he said he wanted to be on the inside of Badlands Nitro, if possible.”

Santanna Blue Chip (PP1, 10-1), co-owned and trained by Carl Jamieson of Princeton, Ontario, won last year’s Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands and the Governor’s Cup at Woodbine in a monster campaign which saw him bank $927,095.

This year, the son of Art Major is winless in two starts, finishing second to Somebeachsomewhere in a Burlington division May 31, before fading slightly to finish third behind Badlands Nitro last Saturday in his elim. He’ll be driven as usual by Jody Jamieson, who won last year’s Pepsi North America Cup with favoured Tell All.

Dali (PP8, 8-1), trained by Duane Marfisi for the Uncirculated Stable of Brantford, Ontario, opened his 2008 campaign with a 1:50.3 win over Cup rival Art Official in a Burlington division May 31, before succumbing to a late charge from Deuce Seelster in his elim. Last year, the son of Real Artist won five of 10 starts, including the Woodrow Wilson, for earnings of $459,482. He’ll be handled by Luc Ouellette, who drove Red River Hanover to a Cup victory in 2002.

Keystone Horatio (PP10, 15-1), trained by John Kopas for owner George Hempt of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, has won almost $600,000 and seven of 18 career starts, including a Burlington division on May 31. Last week, the son of Rustler Hanover finished second to Badlands Nitro in his elim. In 2007, he won a division of the Nassagaweya, an Ontario Sires Gold Final at Rideau Carleton and finished third to Santanna Blue Chip in the Governor’s Cup. Randall Waples will drive.

Art Official (PP7, 5-1), trained by Joe Seekman for Sawgrass Farms of Lockport, Illinois, has raced well all season, winning three of seven starts after going winless in 15 outings in 2007. The Art Major colt finished second to Dali in the Burlington, then was a closing runner-up again, this time to Somebeachsomewhere, in his Cup elimination. Twenty-two-year-old Tyler Buter will drive.

Sand Shooter (PP5, 8-1), trained by James Arledge for owners Bill Sanders of Stevenson, Alabama and Jerry Silva of Long Beach, New York, has won once in three 2008 outings, a Pennsylvania Sires Stake at The Meadows on May 9. Subsequently, he was fourth to Dali in a Burlington division, then third to Deuce Seelster last Saturday. Dave Miller retains the drive on the son of Western Hanover, who was only beaten a nose by Santanna Blue Chip in last year’s Breeders Crown.

Completing the field are Mucho Sleazy (PP6, 15-1) and Lennon Blue Chip (PP9, 30-1), both trained by Casie Coleman.

Mucho Sleazy, owned by the Engel Stable of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, will be making his 24th career start in the Cup, tops in the field. He’s won nine races to date, including the Cardinal final last month at Balmoral Park and most recently was third to Somebeachsomewhere last Saturday, three and one-quarter lengths behind. He’ll be handled by driver Mark MacDonald.

Lennon Blue Chip, owned by Rodney Mitchell of Dover, Delaware, drew into the Cup final as the fourth-place finisher to Deuce Seelster in his elimination. The son of Triple Crown winner No Pan Intended won an Ontario Sires Gold Final May 24 at Mohawk. He also won an OSS Gold Final last year at Woodbine. Veteran Jack Moiseyev has been named to drive.

Red River Hanover owns the Cup stakes record of 1:48.4, set in 2002, while Hall of Famer Bettors Delight won the race by the largest margin, four and one-half lengths, in 2001.

Other winners of the Cup, which began in 1984 at Greenwood Raceway, include such champions as Jate Lobell (1987), Precious Bunny (1991), Presidential Ball (1993), Cams Card Shark (1994), Gallo Blue Chip (2000) and Rocknroll Hanover (2005). The Cup was raced at Greenwood from 1984-93, followed by Woodbine from 1994-2006. It was held at Mohawk Racetrack for the first time last year.

Saturday’s exceptional card also includes the $720,000 Fan Hanover Stakes for three-year-old filly pacers, the $335,000 Goodtimes Stakes for three-year-old colt trotters and the $531,800 Elegantimage Stakes for three-year-old filly trotters.

Post time for the first race is 7:10 pm ET.

WEG Media Relations