The Panderosa colt looks to pay early dividends for Canadian based ownership group.

By Jay Wolf

For the past few weeks, Ohio track officials and horseman have had a keen eye on what was coming from the Great White North: mainly the smokey remnants of the Canadian wildfires that have caused racing cancelations and training delays.

Since his eye-popping qualifier on June 24, many eyes have been on Clever Cody as he prepares for the $150,000 Next Generation at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Saturday night (July 1).

The freshman son of The Panderosa is trained and co-owned by Dr. Ian Moore, who shares ownership with Francois Lecomte (St. Hyacinthe, QC), Michael Goldberg (Toronto, ON), Gordon McComb (Paris, ON) and Ron McLellan’s R G Mcgroup Ltd. (Bathurst, NB) under the banner of the Clever Cody Stable.

“[Francois] had a [The] Panderosa before and he wanted another one,” Moore said.

The Panderosa, who is now 27 years of age, was the winner of the 1999 Little Brown Jug and has produced foals that have earned $119 million. He was the sire of Shadow Play.

Moore and McLellan teamed up to win the 2008 Little Brown Jug with Shadow Play.

Clever Cody was one of just three The Panderosa offspring available at last fall’s Ohio Select Sale. His dam is Cams Van Go, a winner of $522,511 during her career, and his granddam was the world champion, Cam’s Valentine.

“I asked Brian Brown looked at him for me,” Moore said. “My owner gave me a $20,000 limit, but I told Brian he could go to $25,000.”

Clever Cody was hammered down for $24,000 from breeder Marvin J. Raber’s consignment.

A couple days after the colt arrived back at Moore’s barn at the Shamrock Training Centre in Ontario, Clever Cody ran into a fence post in his paddock and opened a large gash in his chest.

“He had a huge hole in his shoulder, where it meets the upper part of the forearm,” Moore said. “You could stick your whole fist in there. My associate put him back together, but it broke open again a couple of days later, so we treated it as an open wound. You can barely see the scar there now. It healed very well.”

Clever Cody trained down well this winter and was sent out for his first qualifying effort at Woodbine Mohawk Park on June 16, a second-place effort in 1:57.1, with a :26.1 final quarter.

That mile had his connections thinking about a spot in the rich early season event.

The Next Generation events are restricted to Ohio bred 2-year-olds and required a $10,000 nomination fee paid on May 1.

His second effort was eight days later and was a gate-to-wire win in 1:53.4, establishing the fastest 2-year-old mile in Canada this season.

That impressive win confirmed their thoughts and the group was able to purchase a spot in the $150,000 freshman colt pace.

Clever Cody, who will get the driving services of Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., drew post 3 and has been tapped as the morning line favorite.

Moore, who is also an accomplished pilot, has his eyes on the Central Ohio weather forecast to see if he will be able to be at Scioto Downs on Saturday evening.

“The [flying] weather doesn’t look that good at the moment,” Moore said. “The aviation forecast is for low ceilings at 2,500 feet and a 50 per cent chance of thundershowers.

“If I can’t fly, I am not driving. We’ll have to see.”

If Moore has to stay in Ontario, he will have plenty to keep himself busy as he has three pupils in ‘to go’ Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park, including his 2023 Little Brown Jug hopeful, Stockade Seelster.

The four $150,000 Next Generation events highlight a 16-race card at the south Columbus oval. The undercard will feature two divisions of the $110,000 (div.) Ohio Sire Stakes for sophomore male pacers and a $30,000 open pace.

The first post is scheduled for 5:50 p.m.

RACE 3 — $150,000 NEXT GENERATION — 2-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE

PP — Horse — Driver — Trainer — ML Odds

1. Daisy’s Star — Tyler Smith — Johnson Hill Jr. — 6-1

2. John’s Shadow — Brett Miller — Jim Arledge Jr. — 8-1

3. Seaside Diva — Chris Page — Ron Burke — 4-1

4. Seaside Streaker — Dan Noble — Jeff Nisonger — 7-1

5. Magestic Seas — Ronnie Wrenn Jr. — Brian Brown — 5-2

6. Venice Blue Chip — Anthony MacDonald — Jason McGinnis — 7-1

7. Beautiful Lather — Aaron Merriman — Tye Loy — 7-1

8. Irreplaceable — Jeremy Smith — Todd Luther — 9-1

RACE 7 — $150,000 NEXT GENERATION — TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT

PP — Horse — Driver — Trainer — ML Odds

1. Midnight Daydream — Austin Hanners — Steve Carter — 7-1

2. Sedona Hill — Anthony MacDonald — Jason McGinnis — 9-2

3. Possibility — Aaron Merriman — Chris Beaver — 9-2

4. Jurassic Hattie — Brett Miller — Eric Nesselroad — 3-1

5. Benni Kay L — Hank Levan — Hank Levan — 7-1

6. One Fancy Lady — Don Irvine Jr. — Rosy Weaver — 6-1

7. Sugar Instead — Ronnie Gillespie — Virgil Morgan Jr. — 4-1

8. Iam Independent — Chris Page — Ron Burke — 7-1

RACE 13 — $150,000 NEXT GENERATION — 2-YEAR-OLD COLT TROT

PP — Horse — Driver — Trainer — ML Odds

1. Runs The Wind — Kurt Sugg — Edward Miller — 9-2

2. Do Whats Right — Brett Miller — Todd Luther — 6-1

3. Gypsy Hill — Anthony MacDonald — Jason McGinnis — 6-1

4. A Million In Coins — Ronnie Wrenn Jr. — Vernon Beachy — 4-1

5. Tennessee Tom — Chris Page — Ron Burke — 6-1

6. Deville Hill — Dan Noble — Clarence Foulk — 7-1

7. Spaaanzano — Aaron Merriman — Chris Beaver — 5-1

8. Rose Run Zoom — Don Irvine Jr. — Rosy Weaver — 6-1

RACE 15 — $150,000 NEXT GENERATION — 2-YEAR-OLD COLT PACE

PP — Horse — Driver — Trainer — ML Odds

1. Hundred Dollar Man — Montrell Teague — Brenda Teague — 9-2

2. Janelle Granny — Nick Clegg — Betty Clegg — 7-2

3. Clever Cody — Ronnie Wrenn Jr. — Dr. Ian Moore — 3-1

4. Midwind Beach Boy — Chris Page — Ron Burke — 6-1

5. Magic By The Sea — Hunter Myers — Thomas Litt — 6-1

6. Flash Me L — Hank Levan — Hank Levan — 10-1

7. Born To Dance — Anthony MacDonald — Jason McGinnis — 7-1

8. Hi Ho Silver — Dan Noble — Christi Noble — 8-1