Total Truth edges Friskie

Total Truth rallied four-wide through the long Woodbine stretch to win the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup in 1:49.1 Saturday night. The 4-5 betting choice Feelin Friskie finished second.

Ron Pierce drove Total Truth, picking up his first NA Cup triumph. “It was absolutely perfect,” Pierce said of his third-over trip that resulted with him tipping off the cover of Feelin Friskie. “To tell you the truth, I was licking my chops the whole way.”

Jereme’s Jet was flying from post 10 and took the lead before the field headed into the first turn, but breaks by Doonbeg at the start and Impeccable later in the stretch caused a bit of hesitation before the field settled into an alignment. Driver John Campbell kept Feelin Friskie in the middle of the pack and when Brian Sears and Western Ace headed for the leader down the backstretch, Campbell followed for the second-over trip.

After reaching the first quarter in :26.1, driver Paul MacDonell looked over his shoulder while en route to the half in :54.2. At the halfway juncture he had company as by then Western Ace had pulled alongside.

In the turn Western Ace began to fade while Jereme’s Jet hung tough. But the Woodbine stretch was too long for this Jet and his foes began to swarm around him within the final sixteenth of the mile. Pacing four wide was Total Truth, who was a clear one-length winner at the wire. Finishing behind Feelin Friskie in third was the 50-1 longshot Fox Valley Tribal. Dave Panlone got up for fourth while Western Ace earned the last check. Jereme’s Jet faded to sixth.

"I was feeling sorry for Western Ace early in the mile, it wasn't working for him, but it was working out nicely for Total Truth," said George Teague. "I thought last year that he [Total Truth] would have a good season. He had soreness problems as a 2 year old but he came back great this year. "I give a lot of credit to Brenda (Teague) and the guys that stand behind me. The people in the stable do a great job.

"We'll go to the Meadowlands Pace next," Teague added.

As for Feelin Friskie's second-place effort, Campbell offered the following post-race review: "The effort (by Feelin Friskie) was great. He raced very well, he just got outkicked by Total Truth tonight. You're always disappointed when you finish second. The trip worked out okay. I didn't really know what to expect. I was second over around the last turn. He gave me a run and that was good but Total Truth had more run."

Total Truth is a son of Jenna’s Beach Boy. George Teague trains the colt with his sister, Brenda, and the Teagues also own him in partnership with Only Money Inc. The Teagues bought Total Truth as a yearling colt at Harrsiburg, paying $18,000.

Last year at age two Total Truth paced to a mark of 1:51.4 at the Meadowlands and earned $102,825 with four wins and two seconds in seven starts.

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