Road To The Jug

Yankee Cruiser Wins $1.5-Million Pepsi North America Cup; Brooklyn Hanover and Allamerican Captor Also Score

By Tom White
6/23/2003

Three-year-old pacing colts had a hectic weekend with action in the $1,542,500 North America Cup at Woodbine in Canada; the $150,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes Final at The Meadowlands; and two $10,000 eliminations of the $100,000 Spring Championship at The Red Mile.

Yankee Cruiser and driver Dean Magee closed with a tremendous rush to win the $1,542,500 Pepsi North America Cup. The son of Artiscape got the nod by one-half length, over the pacesetting favorite, Allamerican Native, and Artesian, who dead-heated for second. The mle went in 1:49.3.

All three top finishers are eligible to the $550,000-estimated Little Brown Jug on Thursday, September 18 at the Delaware, Ohio County Fair. Yankee Cruiser is also eligible for the $1 million Grand Slam bonus which will be paid to his owners if he wins the final three Grand Slam events. Next up is the Meadowlands Pace on July 12 at The Meadowlands Racetrack followed by the Little Brown Jug on September 18 and the Breeders Crown Final at The Meadowlands on November 29.

On tap Saturday is the Spring Championship Final at The Red Mile, Motor City eliminations at Hazel Park and the Historic (Jersey Cup) at The Meadowlands.

Following are results from this weekend's racing.

$1,542,500 North America Cup 1:49.3

$100,000 North America Cup Consolation 1:52.3

$150,000 New Jersey Sires Stake Final 1:52.3

$10,000 Red Mile Spring Championship Elim 1:51.2

$10,000 Red Mile Spring Championship Elim 1:52.1