JK Endofanera Powers Home in the North America Cup

Dismissed by the betting public following a poor effort in his elimination, JK Endofanera parlayed a heady drive by Brian Sears and a perfect trip to power home a winner in the 31st edition of the North America Cup.  

The sophomore son of Art Major tired in the stretch last week as he drifted out badly, seemingly locked on one line. But tonight was a different story altogether as he warmed up much better, made a better appearance on the track, and most importantly, worked out the winning trip stalking expected wicked fractions. Elimination winner Lyonssomewhere blasted right to the front and set a blistering pace with a record-equalling 25.1 first ¼ but was soon overtaken by a surging He’s Watching who blew by down the backside and hit the half mile pole in 53.2. Meanwhile, elimination winner McWicked was pressing first-over and eventual winner JK Endofanera worked himself into the perfect spot 2nd over as they headed to the ¾. He’s Watching, last year’s two-year-old champion pacer took them down to the ¾ in a wicked 120.3 leaving McWicked laboring on the outside with elim winner Tellitlikeitis stalking from the pocket and JK Endofanera looming second-over. As they turned home and McWicked tired, Sears launched JK Endofanera off cover and he swooped by the tired leaders en route to NA Cup glory. The winning driver couldn’t have been happier.

“The trip worked out beautiful,” Sears beamed. “I followed McWicked and he took me where I needed to go, a second-over trip.” Sears explained that he liked his chances as the race unfolded. “I saw like 1:20 and a piece at the ¾ and I said, “They gotta come back to me just a little bit”. Sears commented on questions about the horse being dismissed by bettors and most experts after being a heavy favorite only a week previous. “It’s a week to week thing and when you’re hot you’re hot and when you throw in a bad one, they forget you” Mickey Burke, assistant trainer, explained some of the changes that benefitted the winner. “After finishing third last week we had to revamp,” he noted. “We took the Murphy off the inside and put the blinkers on. He was on the left line so bad that he was running out down the stretch. We brought him out here to train him a good mile on Tuesday and he responded to it”. Indeed, JK Endofanera was straight as an arrow down the lane to return $26.30 to backers that kept the faith.  

In other action, the night’s first stakes activity started off with a bang as the 3YO Muscle Hill colt Trixton (below) absolutely demolished his foes in a track, stakes and Canadian record time of 151.3 for trainer/driver Jim Takter who was driving for a partnership that included his wife Christina. There was plenty of action early as several horses left hard and battled early which left Trixton parked just past a swift half of 55 flat. From there on, Trixton accelerated away from his winded rivals en route to the record performance. Takter explained how this week’s race was much different from the elimination where Trixton wasn’t challenged at all. “He had to work for it,” Takter began. “It was top speed; I had to do a lot of work to get where I wanted to be.” Takter then heaped praise on the new Canadian record holder. “I haven’t asked him for everything yet. I never popped the plugs on him. He’s still well within himself”. Certainly with Trixton, Father Patrick and Nuncio in his barn, Takter is loaded for bear for this summer’s Hambletonian.

There was an upset in the Armbro Flight Final as Classic Martine (below) parlayed a following trip and some early battling for the lead to hand Perfect Alliance her first defeat of the year. Tim Tetrick, who had a big night (not unusual for him) squeezed the Classic Photo progeny out at the perfect time to get around a laboring Bee A Magician and reach up for a 152.1 win on the shadow of the wire. Last year’s USTA North American Horse Of The Year Bee A Magician delivered her most disappointing effort of the year, fading to 9th after getting a decent pocket trip behind the pacesetters. Classic Martine returned $11.90 to her backers. 

In The Roses Are Red Final popular pacing mare Androvette (below) was sent right to the front and fought off all challengers to win the prestigious event for a third time, this time in 149.1 for Tetrick as the 6/5 favorite. Just when it looked like Androvette might succumb to heated pressure by second-choice Somewhereoverarainbow like the true champion she is, she spurted away again for the three-peat. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the race was noted deep closer Rocklamation blasting off the gate from the extreme outer post 10 and clearing in the blink of an eye for Yannick Gingras who does that perhaps better than any teamster in the sport. Tetrick, who drove Androvette very conservatively in her elimination win was having none of that, however, and urged his mare to the top before the quarter and put down solid fractions of 26.3, 54.3 and 121.4 before sprinting home in 27.2 to ward off the stout challenge of Somewhereoverarainbow. Tetrick heaped praise on the victress following the race. “She’s got something most horses don’t and that’s determination,” The Bionic Man exclaimed. “She just hates to lose and likes to race. She is just a great mare.”  

The Mohawk Gold Cup produced the shocker of the night as 4YO Dragon Again pacer Evenin Of Pleasure skimmed the pylons very late in the mile to narrowly get home in front at 80/1! Just when it looked as though the $6 Million Man Foiled Again might convert a pocket trip, pacesetter Bettors Edge drifted off the pylons in just enough time for the longshot victor to get up. Evenin Of Pleasure returned $164.30 to his sparse group of backers and winning driver Sylvain Filion explained how he did it: "It worked out perfectly," said Filion from the winner's circle. "We had a good post and I was fifth on the rail and I decided to stay inside so I wound up third around the last turn. He kind of swelled up on me and I was looking for an opening and we got it late in the mile and he just blew past them." 

In the Fan Hanover Stakes Final Ufizzi Hanover (below) showed her elimination win really did signal a return to form by using two moves to get up to win in 150.4 as the 8/5 choice. Dave Miller sent last year’s Breeders Crown champ to the front down the backside only to come under siege from Nat A Virgin who held the lead to very late. Miller recapped the trip: "We had a good post, the inside [post two] so I used it to our advantage and got away close," explained Miller after the race. "It worked out where I could get her back to the lead and we got covered up and got out at the head of the stretch and just fired." 

The stars of the show on this night, though, were JK Endofanera and veteran reinsman Sears who has a knack for putting his horses in great position to win these types of major events. On this night he did just that and JK Endofanera did the rest. That makes them 2014 North America Cup champs. 

All Photos Courtesy of Norm Files