by Bob Heyden

Could the 40th edition of the North America Cup be ladies’ night again?

Seven times in the 21st century, including six of the last 13 editions, women have conditioned the Cup champ.

2006 — Total Truth — Brenda Teague

2010 — Sportswriter — Casie Coleman

2015 — Wakizashi Hanover — JoAnn Looney-King

2016 — Betting Line — Casie Coleman

2019 — Captain Crunch — Nancy Takter

2020 — Tall Dark Stranger — Nancy Takter

2021 — Desperate Man — Kathy Cecchin

It took 155 years for a female trainer , to win the Belmont. Jena Antonucci did so with Arcangelo on Saturday (June 10).

Later that same night, Lauren Tritton became the first female driver to not only compete in the Battle of Lake Erie, but win it and Takter and Linda Toscano each qualified two horses for the NA Cup final. Maybe June is actually ladies’ month.

31 YEARS LATER?

If Ammo wins the Cup on Saturday night it would give trainer Joe Holloway two victories 31 years apart. Driver Mike Lachance won his first Cup in 1992 with Holloway trainee Safely Kept (30-1).

33 YEARS… CATCH THIS

It has been 33 years since a driver/trainer won the North America Cup: Bud Fritz, Apaches Fame in 1990.

In the 1980s, trainers/drivers were the norm and won four of the first five Cups.

1984 — Dr John Hayes — Legal Notice

1985 — Dave Wall — Staff Director

1987 — Mark O’Mara — Jate Lobell

1988 — Yves Filion — Runnymede Lobell

UNIQUE BIO

Only Scott Zeron (now 34) can say that by age 30 he had two Hambletonians and one North America Cup under his belt. Now he’s back trying to make that a pair of each. Zeron was born the month before Goalie Jeff won the 1989 NA Cup paying over $90. His colt It’s My Show this year will be among the favorites.

TWO-TIMERS

Bill Robinson and Takter are the only trainers in the 39-year history of the North America Cup to have won it consecutively.

Takter with Captain Crunch and Tall Dark Stranger (2019-20) and Robinson with Presidential Ball and Cam’s Card Shark (1993-94).

Robinson also won it in 1991 with HOY Precious Bunny making it an amazing three in four years.

UNDER… ON THE NUMBER… OVER

The first three NA Cups were not yet a million dollars.

On 24 occasions the pot has been exactly $1 million.

And 12 times it went for over a million, including $1,629,500 in 2004 won by Mantacular (26-1).

HALL (HAUL) IN THE CUP

Three trainers are in Goshen’s Hall of Fame who won the Cup prior to their induction: Joe Holloway (1992), Blair Burgess (2007) and Ron Burke (2014).

NO SPEEDING

When Pebble Beach hit the wire in 1:50 in 2022, it marked the slowest NA Cup in 15 years. Tell All went 1:50.3 in 2007.

DEBUT YEAR

Canada’s first million-dollar race came in the fourth edition of the NA Cup. Once known as the Queen City Pace (1964-83), the 1987 Cup went to Jate Lobell and Mark O’Mara over Frugal Gourmet.

JATE’S BOYS

Jate Lobell, 1987 NA Cup winner, sired the winner of the NA Cup in three of his first six crops.

1992 — Safely Kept

1995 — Davids Pass

1997 — Gothic Dream

FATHERS DAY WEEKEND

Tim Tetrick won the Cup in 2013 with Captaintreacherous whose son Captain Crunch, from his first crop, won the NA Cup in 2019. Bettor’s Delight sired the 2020 NA Cup winner Tall Dark Stranger from his 15th 3YO crop. Lazarus N is represented in 2023 with his first 3YO offering, while Downbytheseaside won it last year with Pebble Beach from his first crop. And who could forget Artsplace siring a Cup winner four years after he passed away in 2006. Sportswriter from Artsplace’s 14th and final 3-year-old crop won the Cup in 2010.

39 YEARS IN

Twelve of 39 winning drivers were born in the U.S. The rest, Canada, until Todd McCarthy from Australia won last year.

Twenty-one of the 39 winning trainers were born in Canada, 12 were born in the U.S., three in New Zealand, two in Sweden and, thanks to Noel Daley in 2022, one from Australia.

In the first 15 editions, no NA Cup was faster than 1:50.

In the last 24 NA Cups, 19 have gone faster than 1:50.

OWN UP TO IT

Owner Jeff Snyder has won the Cup a record four times.

1994 — Cam’s Card Shark

2002 — Red River Hanover

2005 — Rocknroll Hanover

2009 — Well Said

CATMAN’S HIGH POINT

With 95,000 plus drives, Cat Manzi’s biggest money win came in the 2004 NA Cup with Mantacular at 26-1. Larry Rathbone trained the winner of largest purse in Cup history at $1,629,500.

OH, SO SWEET LOU

The most represented stallion in 2023 in the NA Cup with three is Sweet Lou who looks to avenge his 2012 defeat in this race.

IS THIS IT?

For their 3YO season that is. Of the 39 Cup winners, 23 of them did not race past their sophomore seasons.

THREE BROTHERS, THREE TIME WINNERS?

If Save America wins, it would be 3 Brothers Stables third Cup victory.

2014 — JK Endofanera (also bred him).

2019 — Captain Crunch.

SIX IN A DECADE

No one is coming near this: John Campbell’s six NA Cups in the decade of the 1990s. Precious Bunny (1991), Cam’s Card Shark (1994), David’s Pass (1995), Arizona Jack (1996), Gothic Dream (1997) and The Panderosa (1999).

LADIES DOUBLING UP

Nancy Takter and Linda Toscano both have a pair in the final.

It’s My Show and Fulton for 2019 Hall of Famer Linda Toscano and Save America and Christchurch for Nancy Takter.

HOMEBREDS

Voukefalas — Michael Pagonas

It’s My Show — Richard & Joanne Young

Confederate — Diamond Creek Farms

Moment Is Here — Bob McIntosh