CAMPBELLVILLE, Ont. — Thinking Out Loud, driven by Randy Waples, stormed home late to best Time To Roll and Dapper Dude by a half-length and capture the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup in a stakes record 1:47.4, Saturday at Mohawk Racetrack.
Co-bred, co-owned and trained by Windsor’s Bob McIntosh, Thinking Out Loud, a son of Ponder, thus gave his Hall of Fame trainer his first Cup victory in an upset over the odds-on choice, Sweet Lou, who finished fourth.
“It’s just an unbelievable feeling,” said Waples. “I just drove a horse for a guy who’s in every Hall of Fame in the world. He makes it so easy. His crew is unbelievable. He (Thinking Out Loud) has been a great horse since the day he set foot on the track. I was lucky enough to pick him up. I owe it all to Bob and his crew.”
Warrawee Needy and driver Jody Jamieson immediately fired out from the eight-hole and blazed an opening quarter in a Cup record :25.1, followed by A Rocknroll Dance and Sweet Lou, positioned in third.
Warrawee Needy continued to blaze through a half in another Cup record, :52.4, but began to tire as the field rounded the far turn. That’s when Sweet Lou and driver Dave Palone rolled up to take command, as the three-quarters was clocked in 1:20.3. Last year’s US champion two-year-old then opened a couple of lengths on his pursuers and appeared to be home free.
But the closers were coming. McIntosh’s other Cup hopeful, Dapper Dude and driver John Campbell, was the first to take dead aim on the leader, then along came Thinking Out Loud on the outside and Time To Roll in the middle.
Approaching the wire, Thinking Out Loud got up for the win, giving Waples his first Cup victory as well. Time To Roll closed well to outduel Dapper Dude for place, as Sweet Lou faded late, one and one-quarter lengths behind the winner.
It was the seventh and biggest win by far for Thinking Out Loud in only 10 career outings. He’d come into the Cup final off an impressive third place finish to Sweet Lou and Warrawee Needy in a record 1:47.4 elim last Saturday, just three and three-quarter lengths behind the winner despite being parked for much of the mile.
“Last spring (2011), I knew (Thinking Out Loud) was very special. Then he came down with a bone bruise. So we shut him down for the year. He’s paid us back for that patience now, I guess.
“I thought they were driving good up front. It worked out for us. It’s a great field of horses. Racing luck was on our side. Randy drove great. John drove a fantastic race being third with Dapper Dude (winner of last week’s other elim). It’s a very exciting night.
“Randy and I go quite a ways back. Randy’s dad, Ronnie and I go way, way back. The Waples name is nothing but class.”
Thinking Out Loud, co-owned by McIntosh, CSX Stables and Al McIntosh, picked up a pot of $750,000 for winning the Cup, the richest pacing event in the world. His final time also equalled the track and Canadian record, while eclipsing Well Said’s 1:48.1 Cup mark set in 2009.
With Sweet Lou finishing fourth, the tote board lit up. Sent postward the 8-1 third choice, Thinking Out Loud returned $18.60, $8.40 and $8.50, combining with 9-1 shot Time To Roll ($9, $9.10) for a $133.50 (5-3) exactor). A 5-3-2 (Dapper Dude, $9.50) triactor fashioned a $1,108.90 payout, while a $1 Superfecta [5-3-2-4 (Sweet Lou)] came back $1,587.15.