Three elims set the field

Yankee Skyscaper scored a convincing victory in the first of three eliminations for the Pepsi North America Cup after an impressive last-to-first move down the stretch in the first elimination Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack, while Tell All and Sutter Hanover emerged victorious in the other two elims. The $1.5 million final will be held Saturday night, June 16.

Driven by George Brennan, the Chris Ryder-trained son of Artiscape, Yankee Skyscaper, came from seventh and last at the top of the lane to overhaul the favored Kenneth J, and tus stamp himself as the likely favorite for next week’s pot of gold.

Sent postward the 3-1 third choice behind the 4-5 favorite, Yankee Skyscaper trailed the field for most of the mile, while Kenneth J and driver Ron Pierce hit the half in :54.2 and the three-quarters in 1:22.2.

But turning for home, Brennan unleashed Yankee Skyscaper five wide and it didn’t take long to topple the field, as he crossed the wire in a mile time of 1:50.2, one length to the good over Kenneth J, with Watta Hotshot third and Southwind Lynx fourth.

Yankee Skyscaper, who won last year’s $1 million(C) Metro Pace, also at Mohawk, at 8-1, had entered Saturday’s elimination off a second-place finish, just a head behind Fresh Deck, in the $500,000 New Jersey Classic on June 2 at the Meadowlands.

“(Tonight) at the top of the stretch, he was loaded. I thought he could get there," said Brennan. "Going in, we (Ryder and Brennan) both thought we’d stick to the way we’ve been racing him. They’d be going at her pretty good (on the front end), we figured, so just try and pick up the pieces and get ourselves qualified for next week. Tonight, that was the plan.”

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