SBSW aiming at NA Cup

Thursday morning, two days before the $1.5 million North America Cup elims at Mohawk, trainer and co-owner Brent MacGrath admitted to harnessracing.com that he felt a bit of relief after Somebeachsomewhere won his sophomore debut last Saturday night, May 31, in a Burlington division.

“Yeah, it’s always nice to get the first one in and get it over with,” said MacGrath of the 3-year-old colt pacer. “He’s still showing how dominant he is, or he’s acting like he is. He was certainly very comfortable.”

Somebeachsomewhere won all six of his freshman starts last year and $773,296 for the Schooner Stables on his way to being voted co-Horse of the Year (with Tell All) in Canada and divisional honors in the U.S. (despite never setting foot outside of Canada). His 3-year-old season was postponed a bit after the colt suffered a bone bruise prior to an Ontario Sire Stakes contest May 17, but the son of Mach Three showed no signs of the injury when he won his Burlington division in 1:51.3 by 1 ½ lengths as the 1-5 favorite.

“He’s trained that way all year and he’s acted that way,” said MacGrath. “And he was never stressed last year. So he should have come back good.”

Somebeachsomewhere drew post four in the second of the three NA Cup elims. As usual, he will be driven by Paul MacDonell.

“We couldn’t do any better than that,” answered MacGrath when asked his thoughts on the post-position draw.

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