The Pepsi North America Cup, now in its 33rd year, took place at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, Ontario tonight with a thrilling late drive by the favoured BETTING LINE, driven by Dave Miller, to win the race in record-tying fashion. The time of the race was 1:47.4, a Canadian and Track Record. The $1-million marquee race is for three-year-old horses, the best of both north and south the border, squaring-off for riches and glory! The victory pushed the colt’s earnings past the $1.1 million-mark for owners West Wins Stable of Cambridge, Christine Calhoun, of Chatham, and Mac Nichol, of Burlington.  His trainer is Casie Coleman, who won the race a second time.
The star-studded night of racing as always draws a huge crowd, filling the oval’s grandstand from side to side. A real sense of community. Live Country Music Acts like Alee and Andrew Hyatt graced the stages, while guests queued the food trucks with offerings like Corn-on-the-Cob, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Fish Tacos, Key Lime Pie in a Jar and of course, #1-rated Silver Bullet BBQ Ribs! We tried the latter two and they were ALL THAT!
NHL players and brothers Brett and Nick Ritchie made an appearance also, bringing their friends and family out for the fun!
The Evening’s signature cocktail was the Summer Night, a refreshing iced tea and lemon-based vodka drink sold in commemorative mason jar mugs.
Free Baseball Caps donning the marquee race logo were handed-out to guests, along with free first bets. Chances to win a $50 Gift Card for Mohawk were up for grabs. One winner tonight, Fred Di Sero, only wanted to go to the North America Cup with his family for Father’s Day, but wound-up a huge winner, winning a $1,000 bet which he placed correctly on BETTING LINE!
The evening was hosted by Sports Personality Monika Platek, while familiar faces Dawn Lupul and Jason Portuondo appeared on the live TSN broadcast of the North America Cup!
We always have a blast at North America Cup. Re-live our memories:
Betting Line wins the Pepsi North America Cup
Seven-week-old Marty was the perfect Ambassador, greeting fans at the door on their way in. He was raising awareness for the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society.
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Top Drivers came out to meet their Fans pre-race:
Top Driver, Trevor Henry:
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
The Summer Night:
Jody Jamieson throwing free T-shirts to his fans:
#JodyJamieson thrilling fans with free Ts at @mohawkracetrack! #NACup
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Sports Personality Monika Platek picks her #NACup winner:
Silver Bullet BBQ Ribs
A video posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Key Lime Pie… in a jar from Sea Buster’s Cove
Brett + Nick Ritchie:
NHL brothers Brett and Nick Ritchie with @jporty13 at #NACup. pic.twitter.com/XRNnzlVTes
— MR. WILL WONG (@mrwillw) June 19, 2016
Happy Winner!
All Fred Di Serio wanted was to go to the #NACup for Father’s Day. He won a free $1,000 bet. He picks Betting Line! pic.twitter.com/SNXLhyeO8Z
— MR. WILL WONG (@mrwillw) June 19, 2016
My night at the #NACup in Snapchat:
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Disney‘s makes a huge splash with FINDING DORY this weekend, debuting with an all-time record for an opening of an Animated Festure with $140 million from 4,305 theatres! After incubating for several years, this Sequel to 2003’s Finding Nemo does it right, striking a chord with Critics, who gave it a 95% on the Tomatometer and an AÂ CinemaScore from Audiences. By contrast, its Predecessor made $70 million in its opening.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE opens big in second with $33 million for Warner Bros. in 3,508 theatres. The Comedy starring Kevin Hart and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson gets a 65% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a promising A-Â CinemaScore.
Last week’s champ THE CONJURING 2 slips to third in the wake of stiff competition, but still earns $16 million in its second week out, a total $72.2 million thus far domestically. Not bad for a Horror!
NOW YOU SEE ME 2 is in fourth with $10 million, a total of $41.7 million over two weeks for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films.
WARCRAFT slips to fifth spot for Universal Pictures with $7 million in its second week out.
Rounding out the Top Ten is CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR with $2.2 million in its seventh week for Disney, just surpassing $400 million in North America.
As an absolute surprise, stars Skylar Astin (21 & Over, Graves) and Anna Camp (True Blood, Mad Men) are in the City for the NXNE Festival, last night judging an Acapella contest at Yonge-Dundas Square. The real-life couple who both star in the Pitch Perfect franchise together both are working on their own endeavours right now. Astin just released the single Call My Name, on which he provided guest vocals for Phantoms. Camp meanwhile is in Califorinia filming Good Girls Revolt, a new series.
It is said that Camp has family here and the soon-to-be-married couple were to spend some time with them.
Engagement Photo:
We were thrilled to meet the Couple who kindly stopped for a Photo!
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
We’re unclear if like their Pitch Perfect Co-Star Brittany Snow who came a couple years back, they will be at the iHeartRadio MMVAs this weekend.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Chad Coleman‘s star has risen quickly in recent years thanks to a phenomenal turn as Tyreese on AMC’s The Walking Dead! Since then he has appeared on History‘s adapted mini-series Roots and now he is in Toronto filming SyFy‘s The Expanse.Â
The Actor was in Toronto last year meeting fans at Fan Expo and has been spotted around town including taking in a baseball game!
Coleman, who by the way once served in the army, had a bit of spare time today and appeared on Breakfast Television, promoting his recent work and also his line of The Walking Dead character T-Shirts and merchandise available online at A God Amongst.
See our Snap:
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Exciting news, Starbucks lovers! As many of you know, the coffee giant unveiled their new Sunset Menu beginning today with a variety of Granitas (shaved ice beverages) and Trifles (tiered cake dessert) to entice our tastebuds! Available exclusively after 3 PM only, these new offerings give us a new reason to visit later in the day!
After receiving the tease last week, we’ve been obsessed about trying each and every one of these new selections. How we longed to savour that crunchy ice, slurping-up that sweet, gooey caramel espresso. Â We dreamed of basking in the sun, the chill on our tongue as that sweet-tart intermingling of strawberry, lemons and limes quenched our thirst. And Trifle. We absolutely love desserts. What could go wrong?!
At long last we  had a chance to taste these new Sunset Menu options today and here’s a play by play of what to expect:
Youthberry® White Tea Granita: Somewhat similar in taste to their Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher, with a scoop of lemon shaved ice, this still manages to preserve a bit of that tea essence. Perfect if you want something light, cool and not too sweet. If you need that caffeine though – like a vast majority of the retailer’s fanbase – scroll down a bit further.
Caramel Espresso Granita: What I enjoyed about this one is that it isn’t overly sweet and syrupy. A majority of that sweetness is in the caramel drizzle on-top. Texture wise it reminds me a lot of another Canadian coffee chain’s (not the one that immediately comes to mind!) icy coffee, but without the excess sweetness. That espresso goodness we’ve come to love of Starbucks still is preserved, but with an icy crunch.
Strawberry Lemon Limeade Granita: This was great in that you know you’re not just getting some processed strawberry-flavoured syrup. You get legit pureed strawberry here, with the familiarity of lemonade. Definitely to be enjoyed on a super-hot day, although waiting for the ice to melt after the liquid is consumed is admittedly a test of patience.
Chocolate Brownie Trifle: Warm, hot Brownie enveloped in cream and Mocha syrup in a snack-size Frappuccino cup. Our only regret is that it is finished so quickly!
Strawberry Shortcake Trifle: Our favourite of the two Trifle offerings. A dense, rich Shortcake enveloped in strawberry puree and cream. Â More, please.
We realize this is a lot to process. That’s why we’re leaving it at this till July when a few more exciting additions are to come!
Try the Sunset Menu before it’s gone! More here.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
NTD Apparel Inc. + MR. WILLwant to give Readers across Canada a chance to win an official SUICIDE SQUAD T-Shirt! This is the Movie we’ve ALL been waiting for!!
Synopsis:
When the White House becomes concerned about the safety of the President of the U.S., Intelligence Officer Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) has a plan. She wants to get a team of super villains together and have them fight against possible threats to the country.
In exchange, the villains are promised reduced prison sentences. The group includes master assassin Deadshot (Will Smith), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), The Joker (Jared Leto), Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), the Enchantress (Cara Delevingne), Katana (Karen Fukuhara), El Diablo (Jay Hernandez) and Slipknot (Adam Beach).
Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) is put in charge, and he soon finds out that the villains are a handful.
Trailer:
A look at the amazing T-Shirts:
To enter to win, simply click “like” at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOKÂ on this Post and specify your size in the comments.
Click “share” from there for an extra chance to win! Click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON INSTAGRAM for an extra chance!
Can’t chance it? You can find these awesome T-shirts at HMV come early July!
The Cast of Suicide Squad + Mr. Will:
Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release SUICIDE SQUAD on Friday, August 5, 2016.
(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)
The Orchard + Mr. Will want to take Readers to see Sundance selection HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE.
Screening takes place Wednesday, June 22, 2016 in Toronto at Cineplex Yonge x Dundas, 7:00 PM.
Synopsis:
Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison), a defiant young city kid, is sent by child welfare services to live in the country with foster aunt Bella and cantankerous foster uncle Hec (Sam Neill). When Bella suddenly passes away and child services decide to take Ricky back to a care home, Ricky runs away into the bush with uncle Hec in pursuit. Child services arrive to find the house empty, and come to the conclusion a bereaved and mentally unstable Hec has abducted Ricky. A national manhunt ensues, and the two have to get over their differences to survive.
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate for us your city!
G’luck.
HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE  is in theatres  Friday, June 24, 2016.
(Photo/video credit: The Orchard)
D Films + Mr. Will want to take Readers to see Sundance selection THE NEON DEMON from Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive) and starring Elle Fanning.
Screenings take place Wednesday, June 22, 2016 in Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Calgary. The Edmonton screening takes place Thursday, June 23, 2016.
Synopsis:
Jesse, an aspiring model, moves to Los Angeles, where her vitality and youth are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means to get what she has.
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate for us your city!
G’luck.
D Films release THE NEON DEMON on Friday, June 24, 2016.
(Photo/video credit: D Films)
THE CONJURING makes a huge splash at the Box Office in its debut this weekend with $38 million from 3,343 theatres for Warner Bros. By contrast, the Horror’s 2013 predecessor opened with $41 million. Critics gave it a solid 75% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it an A-Â CinemaScore.
In second is WARCRAFT with an impressive $25.7 million from 3,400 theatres for Universal Pictures. The Action-Fantasy based on the global video game phenomenon, gets a B+Â CinemaScore from Audiences.
NOW YOU SEE ME 2 opens an impressive third with $23.3 million for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films. Critics gave this installment a 36% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it an A-CinemaScore. Its predecessor made $29.4 million in its debut back in 2013.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS slips to fourth with $13.9 million for Paramount Pictures, in its second week. It has made $60 million over two weeks.
X-MEN: APOCALYPSE is in fifth with $9.5 million in its third week out for 20th Century Fox, a tally of $135 million domestically.
ME BEFORE YOU continues to post great numbers, with $9.3 million in its second week out for Warner Bros. The Romance has made $36 million this far.
THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE is in sixth this weekend with $6.8 million, nearing that $100 million mark for Sony Pictures in its fourth week.
THE JUNGLE BOOK shows amazing longevity, rounding out the Top Ten in its ninth week out with $2.7 million for Disney. It thus far has made $352 million in North America.
Elevation Pictures + Mr. Will want to take Readers in Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Victoria to see Matthew McConaughey in FREE STATE OF JONES, starring Matthew McConaughey and Gugu Mbatha Raw. Screenings are on Thursday, June 23, 2016.
Synopsis:
Based on Oscar®-nominated writer/director Gary Ross’ original screenplay, the epic action-drama Free State of Jones tells the extraordinary story of a little known episode in American history during which Newt Knight, a fearless Mississippi farmer, led an unlikely band of poor white farmers and runaway slaves in an historic armed rebellion against the Confederacy during the height of the Civil War.
Trailer:
Artwork:
To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook and indicate your city. Click “share” from there for an extra chance! Â Tweet out the below for an extra chance:
http://www.mrwillwong.com/freestateofjones @MRWILLW wants us to #win Advance Passes to see #FREESTATEOFJONES. Out 6.24.
Elevation Pictures release FREE STATE OF JONES Friday, June 24, 2016.
(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)
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