NA Cup history for Teague?

June 07, 2007

The brother-sister combination of George and Brenda Teague will attempt to do something in this year�s Pepsi North America Cup that has only been done once before as they send out three starters in this Saturday night�s eliminations in hopes of defending the title they won last year with Total Truth.

The only conditioner to win back-to-back titles in the 23-year history of the race is Bill Robinson, who turned the trick in 1993 with Presidential Ball and 1994 with Cam's Card Shark.

George Teague is the primary conditioner of the stable but turns the duties over to sister Brenda when his starters race in Canada. Their best hope this year may rest on the shoulders of Southwind Lynx who is coming off his biggest career win in the $1 million Art Rooney final last Saturday night at Yonkers Raceway in 1:52.3.

�He came out of that race very well,� said George Teague. �I wasn�t quite sure how he�d be on the half-mile track, but he handled it ever better than I thought he would. Even though he won last weekend, he was slipping a little bit on the turns, so I think he could step up and be even better on the big track at Mohawk.�

The son of Real Artist-Luxury Class posted two wins in seven starts as a rookie while banking just shy of $60,000. He watched his bank account swell substantially to $569,020 with last weekend�s rich victory.

Southwind Lynx did race twice over the Mohawk oval last season and Teague is hopeful that experience will serve him well.

�I�m glad he�s had a chance to be over Mohawk before and I think he�ll handle it well,� he said. �He ships out from Delaware and hopefully Brenda will have a chance to spin him over the track a little bit on Friday morning, so she can make any last-minute changes she deems necessary.�

Southwind Lynx has drawn post 3 in the first $50,000 split with North America�s leading reinsman this season, Tim Tetrick, down to drive. The colt has drawn a tough split that includes the top-rated Kenneth J and last year�s Metro Pace champion Yankee Skyscaper.

Teague also sends out Whats Up Now (post 8, second elim.) and Mattdultery (post 4, third elim.), giving him a solid opportunity at getting back to the final of Canada�s richest race.

�I think they are all top quality colts and I like the three I have,� he admitted. �They are all healthy and sound. Mattdultery can surprise with the right trip and Whats Up Now has lots of go to him and just needs a bit of racing luck. I love racing in Canada and we (the stable) definitely have a soft sport for the North America Cup after winning it last year.�

In addition to the Pepsi North America Cup eliminations, Mohawk will host eliminations for the Elegantimage Stakes (3-year-old filly trotters) on Friday night and eliminations for the Goodtime Stakes (3-year-old colt trotters) on Saturday. Another part of Saturday�s undercard will be the third leg of the Classic Series for the sport�s top older performers. First post both nights is at 7:20 p.m. (WEG)

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