As I sit on a plane traveling to a family wedding which begins at 6 pm on Saturday, June 7 – Belmont Stakes Day and North America Cup eliminations night – I can't help but think that I could be missing something special.

Can Big Brown still win the Triple Crown without my surgically corrected eyes focused on the television?

Is it possible for Somebeachsomewhere to set a new world record for 3-year-old pacers in only his second start of the year while I'm on a boat viewing the joining of two star-crossed lovers?

Obviously the answer is no, because neither of them accomplished the task without my attendance at a television.

I had no problem with missing Big Brown (I am a "trot guy" as some unnamed folks would call me) and I might be one of the few people who was happy to see him lose.

Now I have the chance to watch him race again and prove himself over time.

I don't want him to retire, but I have learned that owners don't like to be told that they shouldn't retire their prized possessions.

I had a much harder time with the North America Cup eliminations.

Of course, I was able to watch them on my trusty VCR – wow, they still exist – but there is something to be said for watching the event live.

Dali, Somebeachsomewhere, Sand Shooter and Badlands Nitro were all on the track and I was left thinking,

"I wonder who won, how they did it, what the fractions were, where the top-level horses finished, when they made their moves, and most importantly, why I wasn’t there to witness it?

So, you say "get over it." But wait, there is more.

I'll be in the airport on Saturday during the North America Cup final (though in all fairness, I booked that trip of my own free will) and on a family adventure for the Yonkers Trot and Art Rooney finals

Regardless of my whereabouts, the show must go on!

Without further adieu, let's take a look at the stakes-packed card from Mohawk on Saturday:

Let's start off with the big one, the $1.5 million North America Cup.

I won't be spending much time here, because unless the rest of the field teams up on Somebeachsomewhere, I find it hard to believe he will lose.

I'm not sure if I'm in the minority of majority, but something tells me that we could be looking at the best horse to come along in years.

For those that disagree with my bold statement, there are plenty of very talented young colts signed on for the final.

Sand Shooter seems like an interesting challenger. He hasn't appeared to be comfortable in his two most recent starts, but if trainer James Arledge can work out the kinks, he seems capable of stepping up.

The other ones I'd consider on my tickets are Art Official, Badlands Nitro and Deuce Seelster.

I'll go with a trifecta key, Somebeachsomewhere over Sand Shooter, Art Official, Badlands Nitro and Deuce Seelster. Also, a cold exacta with Somebeachsomewhere over Sand Shooter.

The Fan Hanover is the most interesting stakes race on the card. You have the unbeaten Tug River Princess and a slew of others which are very qualified and capable of getting the job done.

After studying last week's elimination races and taking into account prior ability (basically I handicapped the race), A And Gsconfusion gets my vote.

She won her elimination race under wraps and you know she is a quality filly because she is the reining champion from 2007.

The biggest concern is the possibility of a short price (2-1 or less), but Tug River Princess should take enough money to make my top choice palatable.

Trying to come up with an exacta play in this race could be tough.

Cuz She Can posted a nice elimination effort and has the early speed needed to overcome post 8. Up Front Bethann was very impressive in her elimination (tucked, then first-over). Cruzin Inya Jammys finished very well from a tough spot last week.

So, the advice in the Fan Hanover is as follows: Win bet on A And Gsconfusion; Exacta Box of A And Gsconfusion, Tug River Princess, Cuz She Can, Up Front Bethann and Cruzin Inya Jammys; Trifecta Key of A And Gsconfusion over the other four mentioned above.

The Goodtimes is the first of the four stakes on the card and Clerk Magistrate gets top billing in my book.

If you watched last week's elimination, you would be in his corner as well.

The son of Andover Hall uncorked a 26.3-second final quarter to sweep past the leaders for the shocking win.

The only logical explanation for the extreme improvement was the driver change to Trevor Ritchie. Whatever the reason, I'm sticking with him for the final.

B Strike Three appears to be improving with each 2008 trip to the track and merits consideration.

Moon Dreamer has never finished out of the money and is a must on your exotic tickets. Don Giovanni picks up Sears and has good early speed.

Windsong Espoir was a solid second in his seasonal debut last week and can certainly improve.

If Clerk Magistrate is 3-1 or higher, start with a win bet on him. Let's also try an Exacta Box of the five horses mentioned above and a Trifecta Key with Clerk Magistrate over the other four.

The final stakes event features 3-year-old filly trotters in the Elegantimage final.

Rather then try to figure out this tough event, I'm just going with a flier on Susan XYZ.

Driver/Trainer Trond Smedshammer had some traffic trouble last week, but the Credit Winner filly was trotting willingly under the wire.

She will need to step up her game on Saturday, but in a race with no true standout, let's try a win-place-show bet on "Susan".

As a bonus play, Upfront Hannahsboy was forced wide in his NA Cup elimination last week and paced home with good energy once he got going. He seems worth a shot in the Cup consolation.

That's all I have for you this week.

Hopefully we can cash a few tickets.

Good Luck . . . we all need it.

Derick Giwner

Sponsored by Day At The Track - Online Wagering Made Easy!