Odds On Mr Mamba strikes late to take thrilling Pepsi North America Cup
by Chris Lomon / Woodbine communications
additional quotes by Dave Briggs
In a sophomore showdown for glory, prestige, and a place in the history books, it was the diminutive Indiana-sired gelding Odds On Mr Mamba (Odds On Eq uuleus–Honky Tonk Woman) who came up huge, with a late strike in the 43rd edition of the $1 million Grade 1 Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday night (June 13) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
In the process, five-time Canadian Driver of the Year James MacDonald scored his first NA Cup victory.
“It felt amazing,” MacDonald said. “The way the trip worked out, I couldn’t have planned it any better. I’m just lucky, blessed, to get the drive and blessed with the way the race worked out and just a happy guy.”
The pre-eminent North American event for 3-year-old pacers once again showcased some of the sport’s brightest stars, adding another compelling chapter to its rich history in front of a packed house on a spectacular, stakes-laden evening at the Milton oval.
No Waitlist and Al Papi, leaving from post 9 and post 8, respectively, blasted off the gate and looked to set the early tone, with the former landing in the top spot, followed by Melillo and Beau Jangles, the 3-5 choice who had his unbeaten string snapped at 15 in one of last week’s Cup eliminations. Odds On Mr Mamba, second choice on the tote board, sat sixth through an opening quarter in :26.1.
Beau Jangles was given his cue to carry on and took the lead ahead of a half in :54.1, with Al Papi, No Waitlist, and Brandon Blvd filling out the top four, while driver James MacDonald and Odds On Mr Mamba remained sixth.
Brandon Blvd picked up the pursuit of Beau Jangles and began to ratchet up the pressure on the pacesetter, while Odds On Mr Mamba began to make inroads on the lead pair.
It was Beau Jangles on top by three lengths after three-quarters in 1:21.1, as Brandon Blvd, saddled with post 10, continued to grind away on the outside, while Odds On Mr Mamba roared onto the scene with a powerful outside burst, setting the stage for a scintillating stretch drive.
At the wire, Odds On Mr Mamba bested Brandon Blvd by a half-length. Beau Jangles finished a shade behind the runner-up in third and Al Papi crossed the wire fourth.
The final time was 1:48.1.
“In the last turn, I was like ‘I’m going to win by five,’ with the trip [Odds On Mr Mamba] got,” MacDonald said. “Then, when I moved him, it turned into a dog fight. They both kicked away – Beau and Brandon – and we were slugging it halfway down the line. I said, ‘I’m going to be third’ and then he just finds a way to find a little more to get it done.”
It was also the first Cup crown for trainer Melanie Wrenn and prominent owner/breeder Dana Parham of Odds On Racing.
“He comes like a freight train,” Wrenn said. “I’ve never seen a horse that turns it on like him. He wants to be there at the wire, that’s what he wants to do. He generally gets it done.”
Coming into the race, MacDonald, who was making his seventh Cup appearance, said he was confident.
“I just thought the way the draw set up, I thought I was going to get a great trip, and it was a dream come true. I watched my brother [Mark] win this race with Sportswriter, and I was at Kawartha Downs, never thinking I was ever going to do anything like this on this kind of stage. So, it’s pretty special for me, and I’m just so thankful I got the drive, and so, so lucky to be here.
“I’m so proud of the horse, so happy for Melanie and the connections, and it’s just time to party.”
Wrenn, who finished fourth with Odds On Osiris in the 2020 edition, was in an equally celebratory mood.
“I was so nervous,” she said. “I mean, I knew he was in a good spot at that point, but I mean, he was in with so many nice horses, and he’s just amazing. I love him.
“I knew we were going to give it a heck of a try, and he never quits when they’re coming to the wire. He’s always gaining on them. So, we had a pretty good shot.”
It was the third win in as many starts in 2026 for the bay gelding, who arrived at the North America Cup final off a gutsy neck victory in his Cup elimination race, a 1:48.2 mile paced last Saturday at Mohawk.
Odds On Mr Mamba, who holds status as the fastest 2-year-old in harness racing history, a 1:47.4 mile on Oct. 2, 2025, at Hoosier Park, won the Indiana Sires Stakes final and Elevation Stakes last year and took an Indiana Sires Stakes division on May 25, 2026.
Odds On Mr Mamba, who paid $6.10 for Saturday’s win, is 10-0-0 from 11 career starts, along with over purse earnings of $880,405.
“It was something that we pointed this horse to, and but there’s so many other good horses, and so many other things that can go wrong,” said Dana Parham, of Odds On Racing. “But for this year it went right for us, and maybe not quite perfect for some of the others.
“I do want to thank Pepsi and Mohawk for putting on this great event. I think they should be recognized, so I want to thank all of them.”
Odds On Mr Mamba’s sire, Odds On Equuleus, finished 10th in the 2013 NA Cup, and finished his racing career with 20 wins, $938,000 in purse earnings, and a mark of 1:47.4.
*A new wagering record of $687,448 on the North America Cup race was set, eclipsing the previous record of $681,000 in 2015.
