Dan Patch Award winner Lost In Time and O'Brien Award winner Stay Hungry head the list of 3-year-olds nominated to the C$1 million Pepsi North America Cup, scheduled to be run June 16 at Woodbine, Mohawk Park.

A total of 79 sophomore pacers -- up from 60 last year -- were nominated to Canada's richest harness race.

Lost In Time turned heads as a 2-year-old when he won the $660,960 Metro Pace at Mohawk Park for original trainer Jim Mulinix. The son of A Rocknroll Dance drew plenty of attention following the victory and soon moved into the barn of Hall of Famer Jimmy Takter for owners Diamond Creek Racing, J & T Silva Stables, William Rufenacht and Team S Racing Stable. Lost In Time capped a 5-for-9 season with a nose victory over Stay Hungry in the $411,700 Governor's Cup.

Stay Hungry won 6 of 9 starts during his freshman campaign and also topped a half-million in earnings with a victory in the $600,000 Breeders Crown at Hoosier Park. He has strong local ties, with trainer Tony Alagna, O'Brien Award Driver of the Year Doug McNair and co-owners Brad Grant and Irwin Samelman.

Stay Hungry is by two-time Canadian Horse of the Year Somebeachsomwehere, the leading sire of Pepsi North America Cup nominees once again with 17 sons eligible.

POCONO DOWNS TO HOST BREEDERS CROWN

The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono will host the Breeders Crown for the third time this decade on October 27 and, if past history is an indicator, the 5/8-mile track should prove worthy of hosting the $6 million championships.

In 2012, all 12 Breeders Crown races were held on one card -- and all 12 were run in stakes- record times. Then, when the Crown returned to the Northeast Pennsylvania track in 2013, fans were treated to victories by eventual Horse of the Year Bee A Magician, Pacer of the Year Captain Treacherous and all-time money earner Foiled Again. Already this year, 1,146 trotters and pacers made eligible with a February 15 payment to the Crown.

"I think the spike in payments shows that people are excited about the Breeders Crown returning to Pocono – it’s a proven venue with a spectacular racing surface, and the hospitality and location continues the standards set by our recent host tracks of Woodbine, the Meadowlands and Hoosier Park," said John Campbell, president and CEO of the Hambletonian Society which owns and administers the Breeders Crown.

Eliminations for the Breeders Crown will be held the weekend of October 19-20. Total handle for on the eliminations and finals esceeded $8 million in 2010 and 2013, with more than 17,000 in combined attendance. Full plans for the event, including the new logo, will be unveiled at a press conference this Thursday.