From Woodbine Entertainment
CAMPBELLVILLE, June 18…Betting Line, driven by Dave Miller, demonstrated his off-the-pace talent by flying from fifth to first to win the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup, the richest pacing event in the world, Saturday at Mohawk Racetrack, by one length in a stakes, track and Canadian record equalling score of 1:47.4.
The stakes record was originally lowered at Mohawk by Thinking Out Loud in 2012. Betting Line’s win in the 33rd edition of the Cup is also 19th time that an elimination winner has also won the final.
With the win, trainer Casie Coleman, who just celebrated her 36th birthday, earns her second career North America Cup title.
“This was all I wanted for my birthday and Betting Line made it come true,” said the Cambridge, Ontario resident, who won her first Cup in 2010 with Sportswriter.
Betting Line, the even-money favourite, settled into fifth, while driver Randy Waples marched Control The Moment off the gate from post nine towards the front. The Brad Maxwell trainee made the front ahead of Racing Hill to post a :26.4 opening-quarter.
Heading to the half, driver Sylvain Filion took a shot at the lead with Lyons Snyder from third, but Waples kept the tempo hot and parked the first-over challenger to the half in :53.4.
Around the final turn, Lyons Snyder began to fade away first-up while Control The Moment continued to power along on the lead. Racing Hill circled around the tiring Lyons Snyder as Betting Line was moving up into the action on the outside from fifth.
After a three-quarter clocking of 1:20.3, Control The Moment brought the field into the lane with a pair of challengers ready to battle. Racing Hill overtook the lead with less than an eighth of a mile to go, but Betting Line was in striking range pacing powerful strides just a few lengths back.
Betting Line surged by Racing Hill in deep stretch to win. Control The Moment faded to third.
“I always said I wanted to see him get a trip from off-the-pace where he had cover and that worked,” said Coleman. “Dave drove him perfect and they were going all kinds of quick fractions. I was a little worried that he was a bit too far back, but I saw the clock pop up 1:20 and a piece so I was kind of happy.”
After 16 attempts at Cup glory, Hall of Fame driver Miller can now say he has captured his first Cup.
“The first time I drove a horse in this race was Falcons Future, I mean that was in ‘94 so, yes, this is very sweet,” said the Ohio native. “He has been very impressive both weeks and I like his never give in attitude.”
The son of Bettors Delight, notched his 10th victory in 17 career outings and earned $500,000 for the win. The brown colt lifted his lifetime purse earnings to $1,119,922 for owners West Wins Stable of Cambridge, Christine Calhoun, of Chatham, and Mac Nichol, of Burlington.
Betting Line paid $4.20, $2.90 and $2.40, combining with Racing Hill ($3.70, $3.30) for a $116.30 (3-6) exactor. A 3-6-9 (Control The Moment, $4.10) triactor was worth $77.60, while a $1 Superfecta [3-6-9-4 (Boston Red Rocks)] Superfecta came back $121.75.
