World champ makes first start out of Indiana a winning one

He did it! Odds on Mr Mamba proved he is the real deal on the national stage as he powered past a field of stellar opponents in his elimination of the North America Cup Saturday, June 6 at Woodbine Mohawk. Trained by Melanie Wrenn, the big powerful sophomore stopped the timer in 1:48.2 over a track listed as fast but had received rain earlier in the night.

Starting from post four, Odds on Mr Mamba didn’t have his sights set on the lead. He had his sights set on finding the inside path. Driver Dexter Dunn had opted off of him earlier in the week and drove Brandon Blvd, which left Melanie and Peter Wrenn seeking a new driver. They called on Woodbine regular James McDonald, who drove for the first time. MacDonald moved him over right behind Beau Jangles who got away fourth before Brandon Blvd slipped into the spot right in front of Odds on Mr Mamba at the quarter in :26.2.

Right before the half in :54.1, Beau Jangles was out and on the move forward with Brandon Blvd following him second over and Odds on Mr Mamba was third over. Around the final turn, Odds on Mr Mamba was three wide.

In the stretch, Odds on Mr Mamba was as wide as you could get in the stretch. Brandon Blvd got by Beau Jangles but he knew Odds on Mr Mamba was a big threat on the far outside. It took the entire length of the lane to get it done, but Odds on Mr Mamba was there at the wire in 1:48.2 by a neck in the photo with Brandon Blvd. The win streak was snapped for Beau Jangles who finished third for driver Bob McClure another length off Odds on Mr Mamba and Brandon Blvd.

Odds on Mr Mamba paid $7.40 for the win. The Odds on Equuleus gelding remains undefeated in two tries for 2026 and has only one defeat, his first career start last summer at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Overall, Odds on Mr Mamba moves to the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup Final eight for nine lifetime with earnings topping $400,000. The World Record Holder for the fastest mile ever by a two-year-old remains at 1:47.4, a mile recorded last year at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.

“I wanted to get myself in a good spot and let him do his thing,” said MacDonald in the post race interview. “Melanie (Wrenn) and Dex (Dexter Dunn) both told me he had a good late kick. I didn’t really want to go three wide in the turn, but he was pulling himself out of the hole.”

MacDonald, who won the other elimination of the North America Cup with Sweet Lovin Lou, also in 1:48.2, commented on the first defeat of Beau Jangles.

“We’ve learned over the years champions bounce back,” said MacDonald. “I think it will be a heck of a horse race.”

MacDonald talked about the call he got to drive Odds on Mr Mamba, only the third driver to sit behind him besides Peter Wrenn and Dexter Dunn.

“I saw I had a missed call from Indiana,” said Dunn. “I was working babies when the call came in and it took me a little while to call them back. I was sure hoping they didn’t find someone else to drive before I could call them back. I never dreamed in a million years I would pick this drive up.”

Trainer Melanie Wrenn was trackside also for a post-race interview, joined by Peter in the winner’s circle. She congratulated Dana Parham of Odds on Racing for the big win and noted the trip out of Indiana for the first time went very well.

“He (Odds on Mr Mamba) did everything perfectly,” said Melanie. “He didn’t miss a meal and shipped perfectly. It was a pretty easy decision get to James to drive. He is a great driver and its his home turf. He (Odds on Mr Mamba) is better off the pace and we didn’t want to be in the early hunt. We knew James would drive him perfect and he did the right thing.”

When asked about the difference in Odds on Mr Mamba from his two to three-year-old year, Melanie added, “He’s grown a bit. He’s still not a big horse but he’s got a lot of speed and he has a huge heart and he just wants to do it.”