Post Positions Drawn for the 42nd Pepsi North America Cup

MILTON, June 9, 2025 – Louprint, the expected favourite, landed post-4 for Saturday’s $1 million Pepsi North America Cup (Grade 1) at the Post Position Draw on Monday evening.

Elimination winners Lite Up The World, Captain Optimistic, and Louprint were guaranteed to land a post anywhere from two to six. Lite Up The World landed post-5, Captain Optimistic post-6, and Louprint post-4.

With the fastest elimination time last Saturday of 1:48.3, Lite Up The World is trained by last year’s Cup winner Anthony Beaton and is driven by James MacDonald, who is looking to score his first Cup. ​

“I think anyone that watched him early last year knew he (Lite Up The World) was a top horse,” shared James MacDonald. “He was trending in the direction to be maybe a Louprint or that kind of horse, and it just didn’t work out last year, but he’s fresh. He’s been finishing well every time he’s raced. He’s done it from the front, and he’s done it from dead last now.”

Captain Optimistic, who took home the 2024 Governor’s Cup, is trained by two-time North America Cup winner Nancy Takter and will be driven by Dexter Dunn. ​

Louprint is last year’s Breeders Crown winner, trained by Ron Burke and driven by Ronnie Wrenn Jr.

Fast Choice drew the rail. Fast Choice is driven by two-time Cup winner Scott Zeron and trained and owned by husband-and-wife Jared and Ashley Bako. ​

“I love this spot,” Jared Bako remarked. “We’ve got Scott Zeron, one of the best drivers in the world. Scotty drives most of our horses in New York and he actually started this colt’s career, and we had talked about it before, if we were in this situation, that’s where we’d go.”

Hall of Fame trainer Dr. Ian Moore looks for his first Pepsi North America Cup win with Prince Hal Hanover and Joel And The Jets, drawing posts 9 and 3 respectively. Joel And The Jets is driven by last year’s Cup-winning driver Louis-Philippe Roy, and two-time Cup winner David Miller drives Prince Hal Hanover. ​

“I love David [Miller],” said Moore. “He’s a great guy, and I’m sure he’ll help a lot to overcome that nine-hole that Prince Hal has. They’re all going to be leaving in that race going for a million dollars, so hopefully they can work out a trip, and still have some left at the end.”

Crack Shot, trained and driven by father-son duo Gregg and Doug McNair has post-8. Crack Shot is last year’s Ontario Sires Stakes champion.

Swingtown, driven by Yannick Gringas and trained by Ron Burke, has post-7.

Dandy Ideal drew post-2. The Hunter Oakes trainee is driven by Jason Bartlett, who is making his Cup debut. ​ ​

Also making their Pepsi North America Cup debut is driver Braxten Boyd and trainer Cameron Capone with Madden Oaks who has post-10. ​ ​

Michael Copeland, CEO Woodbine Entertainment expressed his gratitude for the dedication of the racing community.

“We’re very proud of the racing program here. A lot of hard work from a lot of great people makes it happen. But it all culminates on the night that we’re all going to have on Saturday. Thank you to the owners, the drivers, the trainers, all of the connections for everything that you do. Congratulations on having the opportunity to race on Saturday night and best of luck to all of you.”

The stakes record for the Pepsi North America Cup is 1:47.2, established in 2019 by Captain Crunch.

The Pepsi North America Cup is scheduled as Race 11 (10:45 p.m. ET).

The $1 million Pepsi North America Cup is the feature race on a $2.5 million card of racing. The Fan Hanover, Roses Are Red, Armbro Flight, Goodtimes and Mohawk Gold Cup are all part of the rich program.

First-race post time is 6:35 p.m.

Admission and parking are free for this year’s Pepsi North America Cup.

For event information, visit WoodbineMohawkPark.com.

The Field for the 42^nd Pepsi North America Cup:

PP – HORSE – DRIVER – TRAINER – OWNER

1- Fast Choice – Scott Zeron – Jared Bako – Ashley Bako

2- Dandy Ideal – Jason Bartlett – Hunter Oakes – Susan Oakes, Thaddeus Wier, Alan Johnston

3- Joel And The Jets – Louis-Philippe Roy – Dr. Ian Moore – Joel And The Jets Stable

4- Louprint – Ronnie Wrenn Jr.-Ron Burke – Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Phillip Collura, Lawrence Karr

5- Lite Up The World – James MacDonald – Anthony Beaton – Mac & Carol Nichol

6- Captain Optimistic – Dexter Dunn – Nancy Takter – 3 Brothers Stables, Marvin Katz, Caviart Farms ​

7- Swingtown – Yannick Gingras- Ron Burke – Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services, R A S Racing ​

8- Crack Shot – Doug McNair – Gregg McNair- Gregg McNair, Dale Hunter, Frank Brundle, George Kerr

9- Prince Hal Hanover – David Miller – Dr. Ian Moore – Prince Hal Hanover Stable

10- Madden Oaks – Braxten Boyd – Cameron Capone- Samir Tawil, Paul Kautz, Alexander Henn, Nathan Fullmer

Also Eligible: Pants On Fire