JK Endofanera and Brian Sears surged by to score in the North America Cup at Mohawk.
JK Endofanera bounced back in a big way at odds of 12-1 to capture the $1 million North America Cup on Saturday night at Mohawk. Driven masterfully by Brian Sears, the homebred by Art Major overtook pacesetter He’s Watching in the late stages and held off runner-up Tellitlikeitis in a 1:48 4/5 mile.
Starting from post nine Sears improved a few spots leaving but remained on the outside as Lyonssomewhere blasted to the front and led through a :25 1/5 first quarter (fastest in North America Cup history). Lyonssomewhere allowed his stablemate and non-entrymate Tellitlikeitis to secure the top down the backstretch but no sooner had he gained command than Tim Tetrick and He’s Watching made a bullet move to control the field at the :53 2/5 half call.
Tetrick, looking to shake the field up, kept the pedal down on He’s Watching and clipped three quarters in 1:20 3/5 stalling the outside flow. He’s Watching began to get a little leg weary in midstretch and Sears vaulted his colt off cover and JK Endofanera responded in a major way.
“I didn’t see how fast the fractions were until the three quarters,” said Sears after the race. “When I called on him he showed up. This is very sweet.”
Tellitlikeitis rallied inside late for second with He’s Watching holding third and McWicked fourth after an uncovered trip.
Ron Burke trains JK Endofanera for owners and breeders 3 Brothers Stable. The colt is a winner in four of five starts this year with his lone defeat coming last week. The trainer changed the horses’ bridle from a week earlier and apparently found the answer to whatever went wrong in the eliminations.