Lite Up The World offers Beaton chance at Cup repeat

MILTON, June 11, 2025 – Trainer Anthony Beaton will have an opportunity to become the third trainer to win the Pepsi North America Cup in consecutive years this Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

After receiving the thrill of a lifetime with Nijinsky in last year’s $1 million race, Beaton shows up to this year’s showdown with Lite Up The World, a son of American Ideal that will be getting plenty of support following a last-to-first victory in his elimination.

Hot fractions set things up for a closer in last Saturday’s second Cup elimination, but Lite Up The World didn’t just fall into the victory, he made a statement by charging home in :26 for driver James MacDonald and winning by 2 ½ lengths in 1:48.3.

With increased notoriety thanks to his Cup elimination victory, Lite Up The World is displaying the potential that appeared possible in his limited two-year-old starts.

“Lite Up The World he’s been a very nice colt all along” remarked Beaton. “We had high expectations for him last year, but he just got sidelined by injury. We tried to get him back for the Breeders Crown at the end of the year, but where those colts were going and them being more seasoned, we decided to shut him down and hoped he’d come back good this year and he’s come back exceptional.”

After three wins in four starts at two, Lite Up The World started his sophomore season with impressive back-to-back victories to stamp himself as a Cup contender. His Grand Circuit debut in the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes on May 31 saw him get picked off late as the heavy favourite, which might’ve lightened his bandwagon a bit going into the Cup elim.

The wagering public that stuck with Lite Up The World were rewarded by an 8-1 price in last Saturday’s victory.

Beaton’s confidence in the colt being in a spot like the Cup certainly increased when getting back down to training this winter.

“He came back to us in January and I saw a huge difference in him,” noted Beaton. “He grew up and developed into a nice strong, good-looking colt. He just matured quite a bit. As we started training down, he showed he was back to where he was last year, which we were very hopeful for and we’re heading into the Cup hopefully in the right direction.”

This year’s Cup experience will be a little different for Beaton with just the one starter after sending out the dynamic duo of Nijinsky and Legendary Hanover.

“Last year we had two headliners heading into the Cup and we thought we had a very good chance with either one,” recalled Beaton. “Unfortunately, Legendary (Hanover) got caught first up, but he did tow Nijinsky into the race and Louis (Philippe Roy) got a great trip on Legendary’s back and tipped out and got the job done for us, which was very exciting.”

Nijinsky would continue to excel following the Cup, earning over $1.6 million for the season and finishing with 11 wins in 17 starts. Legendary Hanover did not sit in his stablemate’s shadow, as he followed up the Cup with wins in the Meadowlands Pace and Cane Pace.

Legendary Hanover now stands stud, while Nijinsky has returned to the racetrack and will compete in the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup on Saturday.

Lite Up The World partners with driver MacDonald, who sat behind Legendary Hanover in last year’s race. Beaton is hoping he can click with MacDonald for another major win.

“This year coming in we’ve got James and hopefully we can get James his North America Cup.”

The owners of Lite Up The World are Mac and Carol Nichol, who purchased the colt for $95,000 at the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. The name Mac Nichol could appear in the Cup history book for a second time, as he co-owned 2016 winner Betting Line.

The Nichols are part of a wide team of supporters that have allowed Beaton and his team the opportunity to win and race in events like the North America Cup.

“Everyone’s rooting for one another here,” said Beaton. “The owners they trust us to take care of these horses, and they keep buying them every year and keep this wheel going. I’m fortunate that way.”

A native of Nova Scotia, Beaton felt plenty of love from back home following Lite Up The World’s elimination score, noting he had about 40 messages on his phone.

If Lite Up The World can find the winner’s circle Saturday, Beaton would join Bill Robinson and Nancy Takter as the only trainers to win the North America Cup in back-to-back years.

Robinson accomplished the feat in 1993-1994 with Presidential Ball and Cams Card Shark, while Takter scored the double in 2019-2020 with Captain Crunch and Tall Dark Stranger.

“It would be pretty cool,” Beaton shared. “You’re very fortunate to win one of these let alone two. If we can do it two years in a row, that would be awesome.”

Lite Up The World starts from post-five in the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup.

Post time for Saturday’s all-star card of racing is 6:35 p.m. The Pepsi North America Cup is carded as Race 11.

The full field for the Pepsi North America Cup is listed below:

1 – Fast Choice – Scott Zeron/Jared Bako – 20-1
​2 – Dandy Ideal – Jason Bartlett/Hunter Oakes – 12-1
​3 – Joel And The Jets – Louis-Philippe Roy/Dr. Ian Moore – 20-1
​4 – Louprint – Ronnie Wrenn Jr/Ron Burke – 7-5
​5 – Lite Up The World – James MacDonald/Anthony Beaton – 4-1
​6 – Captain Optimistic – Dexter Dunn/Nancy Takter – 9-2
​7 – Swingtown – Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke – 15-1
​8 – Crack Shot – Doug McNair/Gregg McNair – 6-1
​9 – Prince Hal Hanover – David Miller/Dr. Ian Moore – 8-1
​10 – Madden Oaks – Braxten Boyd/Cameron Capone – 20-1