Sophomore superstar captures $1.5 million NA Cup

June 14, 2008

In yet another dazzling performance Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack, Somebeachsomewhere won his ninth straight race--and his biggest--with a 1:49 effort in the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup. Winning driver Paul MacDonell said afterward he had chills hearing the ovation given by the overflow crowd as he and the odds-on favorite Somebeachsomewhere cruised to the finish line 2 3/4 lengths ahead of runner-up Badlands Nitro.

MacDonell chose post two for the rich 25th Anniversary NA Cup final for Somebeachsomewhere after his elimination victory and the strategy paid off as he got away fourth but off the pylons a bit as the field headed into the first turn. When it appeared approaching the bend that there was a chance MacDonell might find himself in tight quarters due to horses on the outside, the driver tipped his charge quickly toward the front.

Somebeachsomewhere glided to the top, taking control from the pacesetting Mucho Sleazy and driver Mark MacDonald just after the opening-quarter timer flashed :26.4. From there MacDonell was just a passenger as Somebeach reached the half in :54.4--he said he knew the race was over "once we got to the half in :54.4" immediately afterward--and the three-quarters in 1:22.

Around the final turn Brian Sears had Badlands Nitro moving first-over from third, but the bid was futile and he never came within eyesight of the leading Somebeachsomewhere, with the colt pacing home in :27 flat to give MacDonell his first-ever NA Cup victory. Badlands Nitro held game for second, with Santanna Blue Chip third for Jody Jamieson. Mucho Sleazy was fourth, with Lennon Blue Chip taking home the fifth-place check.

"He raced great," said trainer Brent MacGrath, who shares ownership of the 3-year-old son of Mach Three as part of the Schooner Stable. "He paced great through the wire tonight and Paul drove him perfect. He wasn't worried about any track records, any Canadian records; he was worried about winning the race because Paul hadn't won the race yet until tonight. It was just a big win for everybody."

With the victory, which equaled his career-best clocking set last Saturday in his NA Cup elim, Somebeachsomewhere increased his career earnings to more than $1.5 million. Last year he was voted co-Horse of the Year in Canada with Tell All, who won the 2007 NA Cup.

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