MILTON, June 7, 2025 – Captain Optimistic (Captaintreacherous), Lite Up The World, and Louprint roll into subsequent Saturday’s prestigious $1 million Pepsi North America Cup (Grade 1) at Woodbine Mohawk Park in top-tier type after profitable their respective $50,000 eliminations on Saturday night.
Captain Optimistic (New Picture Media Photograph)
If tonight’s performances are any indication of what’s to return on June 14, the forty second version of the premier occasion for three-year-old pacers is shaping as much as be a traditional.
Within the opening Cup elimination, Joel And The Jets jetted to the lead heading into the primary flip, adopted by Quick Selection, Swingtown and Avanti, whereas Captain Optimistic, despatched on his means because the even-money selection, was final of eight early.
Arriving on the opening panel in :26.1, Joel And The Jets then yielded the result in Swingtown, who marched on after failing to discover a spot alongside the pylons. The latter slowed the tempo and marched his rivals by way of a half in :56.0, however Captain Optimistic and pilot Dexter Dunn had been on the transfer and making headway on the pacesetter.
On high by 1 ½ lengths after three quarters in 1:23.4, Swingtown gave option to Captain Optimistic, who struck entrance in early stretch. Joel And The Jets discovered a seam alongside the within and tried to reel within the chief however completed three-quarters of a size again on the wire. Swingtown held for third, whereas Quick Selection narrowly took fourth.
The ultimate time was 1:50.2.
“I felt fairly assured going into the race,” mentioned coach Nancy Takter, a two-time NA Cup winner (Captain Crunch in 2019 and Tall Darkish Stranger in 2020). “He’s had a very good week. Clearly, the tempo was form of sluggish as much as the half… and he needed to come from distant. I used to be actually proud of this efficiency tonight.”
Third in final 12 months’s Metro Tempo, Captain Optimistic is now two-for-three at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The son of Captaintreacherous received seven of his 11 two-year-old begins, together with a pair of seconds and a 3rd, together with a four-length romp within the Governor’s Cup in November. The bay colt was second in his first begin of 2025, a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes division on Might 25.
“He was working in rather a lot within the turns, and we had been dropping lots of momentum in a number of the huge races,” mentioned Takter. “However he did put it collectively within the Governor’s Cup, which was the final begin of the 12 months. So, I used to be actually comfortable going into his three-year-old season, that his final two-year-old race was so nice.”
CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC REPLAY
Captain Optimistic paid $4.30 for tonight’s win.
Owned by 3 Brothers Stables, Marvin Katz, and Caviart Farms, he was bred by Truthful Winds Farm Inc.
Within the second elimination, the fast-paced festivities unfolded a couple of strides after the starter automobile sped away.
Lite Up The World (New Picture Media Photograph)
A number of hopefuls tussled over early bragging rights as Crack Shot, 3-5 selection Sippinonsearoc and outsider Sterling Selection slugged it out into the primary flip and thru a gap panel in :26.1.
However the fireworks had been solely beginning.
Sippinonsearoc took goal on the entrance after the primary quarter, as Fallout picked up the chase, whereas Madden Oaks went three-wide and powered to the lead forward of the half in :53.2. Lite Up The World (American Best), with James MacDonald on the controls, watched the proceedings unfold from final of eight.
Madden Oaks held a tenuous lead heading into the flip for dwelling, however Sippinosearoc popped the pocket and held a slim benefit by way of three quarters in a brisk 1:21.1, establishing a compelling sprint to the wire.
Lite Up The World, nonetheless sitting eighth straightening for the stretch drive, then started to meticulously decide off his rivals one-by-one en path to a 2 ½-length rating in 1:48.3, punctuated by a ultimate quarter in :26.0. Crack Shot dug in to complete second, whereas a recreation Madden Oaks held on for third. Fallout was fourth.
LITE UP THE WORLD REPLAY
“Final week, I believed I had an important horse, and simply I used to be making an attempt to do an excessive amount of and put him in a nasty spot, and didn’t get the job finished,” mentioned MacDonald, of a runner-up end within the $81,500 second Somebeachsomewhere division. “After which tonight, it was such a aggressive elim.
“I believed there have been 5, six or seven horses that would win it, so I used to be making an attempt to simply float and include cowl and hopefully they blended it up. And I floated, however they had been all leaving. There was nowhere for me to go, and I needed to take again. I knew, as soon as he bought rolling, he glided by one and he simply took off. So, it was a superb feeling.”
The bay son of American Best, bred by Steve Stewart, Paris, John Lengacher, and Minisink Farms, and owned by Mac & Carol Nichol, is now 5-2-0 from eight begins, together with a 2-1-0 mark in 4 2024 begins.
Skilled by Anthony Beaton, Lite Up The World paid $18.30 for the victory.
Within the third elimination, it was Louprint (Candy Lou) for the win.
Louprint (New Picture Media Photograph)
Despatched off because the 1-2 selection, the Ron Burke trainee got here into his newest check fashioning an ideal three-for-three mark in his sophomore season.
He needed to work late to maintain his unbeaten string intact.
Prince Hal Hanover fired out to the early lead, adopted by Dandy Best, Making Historical past and Louprint, who sat fourth by way of a single file opening quarter in :27.0.
Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. then had Louprint on the transfer because the son of Candy Lou responded with a fast flip of foot to seize management earlier than the half in :55.3 and saved the momentum going by way of three quarters in 1:23.0.
It appeared the brown colt was effectively on his option to a snug rating, however Prince Hal Hanover and Dandy Best each got here calling late.
On the wire, Louprint emerged a head in entrance of Prince Hal Hanover, with Dandy Best in third. The latter survived an inquiry after taking what seemed to be a clumsy step or two nearing the half.
The ultimate time was 1.49.1.
LOUPRINT REPLAY
“It was nearer than I needed it to be, however he had the ear plugs in and he was actually robust ending, so I used to be proud of him tonight,” mentioned Wrenn, Jr. “This horse is one of the best horse I’ve ever pushed, and he’s an important horse to drive. And you recognize, I’m simply having fun with it.”
Louprint received the Dan Patch Award final season as the highest two-year-old colt pacer. He took seven of 10 begins, posting notable victories within the Breeders Crown and Kentucky Sires Stakes ultimate.
Owned by Burke Racing Secure, Weaver Bruscemi, Phil Collura and Larry Karr, the homebred is 11-2-1 from 14 lifetime begins.
Louprint paid $3 for his newest success.
The highest three finishers from every elimination, plus one fourth-place finisher, Quick Selection, who was drawn by lot, will contest the NA Cup Closing.
The Publish Place Draw will happen on Monday (June 9) at Woodbine Mohawk Park starting at 5 p.m.
For full race outcomes, click on right here.
by Chris Lomon, for Woodbine Leisure
