Tellitlikeitis installed as 3-1 favourite for North America Cup

CAMPBELLVILLE, Ont. – Tellitlikeitis heads into the $1-million Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday as the horse to beat.

Tellitlikeitis was installed as the 3-1 early favourite for the world’s richest pacing event at Tuesday’s draw. The son of’09 Cup winner Well Said will start from the third post in the 10-horse field at Mohawk Racetrack.

Tellitlikeitis, bred and owned by Lothlorien of Cheltenham, Ont., won his elimination race in a career best 1:48.4, passing heavily-favoured Hes Watching for the 1 1/4-length win in just his second start of the year. Tellitlikeitis also won his season opener, a Pennsylvania Sires Stake, at Pocono Downs last month.

Lothlorien has shared ownership of three previous Cup winners — Well Said (2009), Rocknroll Hanover (2005) and Red River Hanover (2002). Trainer Jim Takter has only started two previous Cup entrants, both in 2012, and finished second with Time To Roll.

Brett Miller has two previous Cup drives, finishing second in 2010 with We Will See.

“He has wicked speed and he’ll take you to where you want to go in the mile,” said Miller. “I definitely wanted to sit in with him this week (in the elim) and it worked out very well that the two horses I wanted to follow were in front of me.”

The three Cup elimination races were held Saturday to determine the field for the final.

Takter will have to Cup entrants, the other being Lyonssomewhere, the 4-1 third choice who also was an elimination race winner. Lyonssomewhere, owned by Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Burford, Ont., will start from the No. 4 position and is undefeated in five starts. The son of ’08 Cup winner and horse of the year Somebeachsomewhere took his elim comfortably in 1:50.1 by one and three-quarter lengths in his first stakes appearance.

He’ll be driven by Corey Callahan, making only his second Cup drive after finishing fourth with Mr Wiggles in 2009.

“I like just about everything about him,” said Takter. “He’s handy and he’s the real deal.

“It’s a long year and I wanted to have him fresh for this event and not too many starts.”

Other elim winner, Mcwicked, selected the No. 2 post. Mcwicked, the American-owned son of ’02 third-place Cup finisher Mcardle, posted the fastest elimination race victory, winning by two lengths in 1:48.3.

Mcwicked is trained by Casie Campbell and is a five-time winner in 14 outings with career earnings of $248,457.

“He was absolutely awesome (in his elim),” Coleman said. “It was the fourth time I’ve raced him and every time he keeps getting better and better.

“It looks like there’s a lot of speed in the race. My horse can race either way. I’d prefer him coming off a helmet but he’s very versatile.”

The remainder of the field includes: Beat The Drum (post one, 20-1 odds); Lets Drink On It (post five, 6-1); Cowboy (post six, 15-1); Hes Watching (post seven, 5-1); Luck Be Withyou (post eight, 12-1); JK Endofanera (post nine, 10-1); and Sometimes Said (post 10, 20-1).