2026 Pepsi North America Cup Preview: Odds, Field, and Top Contenders at Woodbine Mohawk Park
Harness racing owns Saturday night. Woodbine Mohawk Park hosts the 43rd running of the C$1,000,000 Pepsi North America Cup on June 13, and the build-up has produced a genuine rivalry. Beau Jangles, the reigning Horse of the Year, suffered the first defeat of his career in last weekend's eliminations. The colt that beat him, Odds On Mr Mamba, starts two posts to his inside in the final.
The Cup headlines a card carrying more than C$2.5 million in stakes purses, with six graded races on one program. First post is 6:30 PM ET. The North America Cup goes as Race 11 at approximately 10:45 PM ET.
Here is everything you need to bet the biggest night of the Canadian harness season.
North America Cup Night at a Glance
| Race | Grade | Purse | Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepsi North America Cup | Grade 1 | C$1,000,000 | Three-year-old pacers |
| Fan Hanover Stakes | Grade 1 | C$420,000 | Three-year-old pacing fillies |
| Roses Are Red Stakes | Grade 1 | C$320,000 | Older pacing mares |
| Goodtimes Stakes | Grade 2 | C$240,000 | Three-year-old trotting colts |
| Armbro Flight Stakes | Grade 2 | C$215,000 | Older trotting mares |
| Mohawk Gold Cup | Grade 3 | C$100,000 | Invitational pacers |
The Fan Hanover gives three-year-old pacing fillies their own Grade 1 spotlight, while the Roses Are Red brings together the best older pacing mares in training. Trotting fans get the Goodtimes for sophomore colts and the Armbro Flight for older mares. The Mohawk Gold Cup rounds out the program with an invitational field of free-for-all pacers.
How the Eliminations Changed Everything
Beau Jangles arrived at the June 6 eliminations unbeaten and untested. He left with his first loss. Odds On Mr Mamba ran him down in the second elimination, a result that stunned even his own trainer Melanie Wrenn, who admitted afterward she did not expect to win.
The win created a rare dilemma. James MacDonald drove both elimination winners, taking the first with Sweet Lovin Lou before upsetting Beau Jangles with Odds On Mr Mamba. Forced to pick one for the final, MacDonald chose Odds On Mr Mamba. That decision tells you exactly where the smart money sits on the colt's ceiling. Sweet Lovin Lou lands a more than capable substitute in Scott Zeron.
2026 Pepsi North America Cup Field and Odds
| Post | Horse | Driver | Trainer | Projected Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melillo | Ronnie Wrenn Jr. | Ron Burke | 15-1 |
| 2 | Redland Rocket Man | Louis-Philippe Roy | John Pentland | 25-1 |
| 3 | Odds On Mr Mamba | James MacDonald | Melanie Wrenn | 9-5 |
| 4 | Sweet Lovin Lou | Scott Zeron | Dan Lagace | 9-2 |
| 5 | Beau Jangles | Bob McClure | Dr. Ian Moore | 7-5 |
| 6 | Lindy Dragonwater | Ronnie Wrenn Jr. | Ron Burke | 25-1 |
| 7 | Azrael Blue Chip | Andrew McCarthy | Besim Odza | 20-1 |
| 8 | Al Papi | Yannick Gingras | Ron Burke | 20-1 |
| 9 | No Waitlist | Doug McNair | Blake MacIntosh | 25-1 |
| 10 | Brandon Blvd | Dexter Dunn | Andrew Harris | 8-1 |
Top Contenders
Beau Jangles (7-5)
One defeat does not undo a career. The reigning Horse of the Year remains the most accomplished horse in the field, and Dr. Ian Moore's colt gets a fair chance to answer back from post five with Bob McClure in the bike. The elimination loss came in his first start under pressure from a rival of this caliber. If he bounces back the way champions usually do, he wins this.
Odds On Mr Mamba (9-5)
The fastest two-year-old in the history of the sport now owns the biggest scalp in the division. Nine wins from ten lifetime starts, a perfect trip-friendly draw in post three, and James MacDonald choosing him over a fellow elimination winner all point one way. The Melanie Wrenn trainee is the value play if the market keeps Beau Jangles on top.
Sweet Lovin Lou (9-2)
The first elimination winner has improved with every start this season, and Scott Zeron taking the lines is no downgrade. Post four puts him right in the middle of the contenders. Dan Lagace's colt does not need much to go right to hit the board, and a career-best effort puts him in the photo.
Brandon Blvd (8-1)
The Somebeachsomewhere Stakes winner has the talent to trouble the big three but drew the worst of it in post ten. Dexter Dunn drives for trainer Andrew Harris, and few drivers in the sport are better at overcoming a bad draw. He needs an honest pace to fire at.
The Rest of the Field
Ron Burke saddles three of the remaining six. Melillo (15-1) starts from the rail with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. listed, Al Papi (20-1) gets Yannick Gingras from post eight, and Lindy Dragonwater (25-1) leaves from post six. Azrael Blue Chip (20-1) starts from post seven for Andrew McCarthy and trainer Besim Odza. Redland Rocket Man (25-1) drew post two for Louis-Philippe Roy, while No Waitlist (25-1) starts from post nine with Doug McNair driving for Blake MacIntosh.
Betting Menu and Guarantees
Woodbine has loaded the card with value. The night features a C$100,000 Guaranteed Early Pick 5 and a C$100,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick 5, plus a mandatory payout in the Jackpot Hi-5. Whatever sits in that jackpot pool gets paid out on Saturday night, which makes it one of the best pool-value plays of the entire harness season. An Early Pick 4, Late Pick 4, and Late Pick 5 round out the multi-race menu.
Bet the North America Cup Night With MyWinners
Every race from Woodbine Mohawk Park is available to bet with MyWinners. Sign up before first post at 6:30 PM ET and have your Pick 5 tickets built before the C$100,000 guarantee kicks in.
Bet online at app.mywinners.com, on the MyWinners: Racing & Sports app on iOS or Android, or go here to find your nearest MyWinners or Winners venue in CT.
Frequently Asked Questions
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