In a sophomore showdown for glory, prestige, and a place in the history books, it was the diminutive Odds Mr Mamba who came up huge in the 43rd edition of the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The pre-eminent North American event for three-year-old pacers once again showcased some of the sport’s brightest stars, adding another compelling chapter to its rich history in front of a packed house on a spectacular, stakes-laden evening at the Milton oval.
No Waitlist and Al Papi, leaving from post nine and post eight, respectively, blasted off the gate and looked to set the early tone, with the former landing into top spot, followed by Melillo and while Beau Jangles, the 3-5 choice who had his unbeaten string snapped at 15 in one of last week’s Cup eliminations. Odds On Mr Mamba, second choice on the tote board, sat sixth through an opening quarter in :26.1.
Beau Jangles was given his cue to carry on and took the lead ahead of a half in :54.1, with Al Papi, No Waitlist and Brandon Blvd filling out the top four, while MacDonald and Odds On Mr Mamba remained sixth.
Brandon Blvd picked up the pursuit of Beau Jangles and began to ratchet up the pressure on the pacesetter, while Odds On Mr Mamba began to make inroads on the lead pair.
It was Beau Jangles on top by three lengths after three-quarters in 1:21.1, as Brandon Blvd, saddled with post 10, continued to grind away on the outside, while Odds On Mr Mamba roared onto the scene with a powerful outside burst, setting the stage for a scintillating stretch drive.
At the wire, Odds On Mr Mamba bested Brandon Blvd by a half-length. Beau Jangles finished a shade behind the runner-up in third and Al Papi crossed the wire fourth.
The final time was 1:48.1.
It was the first Cup crown for MacDonald and for trainer Melanie Wrenn.
“I was so confident,” said MacDonald, who was making his seventh Cup appearance. “I just thought the way the draw set up, I thought I was going to get a great trip, and it was a dream come true. I watched my brother win this race with Sportswriter, and I was at Kawartha Downs, never thinking I was ever going to ever going to do anything like this on this kind of stage. So, it’s pretty special for me, and I’m just so thankful I got the drive, and so, so lucky to be here.
“I’m so proud of the horse, so happy for Melanie and the connections, and it’s just time to party.”
Wrenn, who finished fourth with Odds On Osiris in the 2020 edition, was in an equally celebratory mood.
“I was so nervous. I mean, I knew he was in a good spot at that point, but I mean, he was in with so many nice horses, and he’s just amazing. I love him.
“I knew we were going to give it a heck of a try, and he never quits when they’re coming to the wire,” continued Wrenn. “He’s always gaining on them. So, we had a pretty good shot.”
It was the third win in as many starts in 2026 for the bay gelding, who arrived at the North America Cup final off a gutsy neck victory in his Cup elimination race, a 1:48.2 mile paced last Saturday at Mohawk.
Odds On Mr Mamba, who holds status as the fastest two-year-old in harness racing history, a 1:47.4 mile on Oct. 2, 2025, at Hoosier Park, won the Indiana Sires Stakes Final and Elevation Stakes last year and took an Indiana Sires Stakes division on May 25, 2026.
Owned by Odds On Racing and bred by Odds On Nourrir, Odds On Mr Mamba, who paid $6.10 for Saturday’s win, is 10-0-0 from 11 career starts, along with over $1 million in purse earnings.
“It was something that we pointed this horse to, and but there’s so many other good horses, and so many other things that can go wrong,” said Dana Parham, of Odds On Racing. “But for this year it went right for us, and maybe not quite perfect for some of the others.
“I do want to thank Pepsi and Mohawk for putting on this great event. I think they should be recognized, so I want to thank all of them.”
Odds On Mr Mamba’s sire, Odds On Equuleus, finished 10th in the 2013 NA Cup, and finished his racing career with 20 wins, $938,000 in purse earnings and a mark of 1:47.4.
Chris Lomon, Woodbine Mohawk Park
