This past Saturday, Dr. Ian Moore watched helplessly through a race involving one of his stable stars that he bluntly stated was one of the most disappointing in his Hall of Fame career. This coming Saturday, another of his students can remedy much of that heartache in likely less than 110 seconds.

Moore, who will be formally inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame this coming August, appeared poised to have a two-pronged threat in the 2024 Pepsi North America thanks to his speedy alliteratively-named sophomores Clever Cody and Storm Shadow. On paper, Clever Cody had his work cut out for him on Saturday facing a strong field in his N.A. Cup elim. Unfortunately, the colt took himself out of contention early with a costly miscue behind the gate. 

Storm Shadow helped improve his trainer's mood a little over an hour later. The son of Bettors Delight - Fade finished a stout second for driver Bob McClure in the third and final N.A. Cup elim to punch his ticket to Saturday's million-dollar main event. 

A product of 2023 Armstrong Breeder of the Year award winner Tara Hills Stud Farm,  Storm Shadow is owned by R G McGroup Ltd. of Bathurst, N.B., Serge Savard of St. Bruno, Que., Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ont. and Bolton Farms LLC of Clermont, Fl. He was a $165,000 Harrisburg yearling purchase — Moore's most expensive of the 2022 yearlings.

"Storm Shadow has been a very, very pleasant surprise for the four partners involved," said Moore after Tuesday's 'Cup' draw at Woodbine Mohawk Park. "There was no room for me, or else I would have been a partner on him as well."

Those partners have enjoyed a solid return on that investment thus far, with Storm Shadow sporting a 4-3-5 summary from 16 starts and $433,989 in earnings to date with wins in the 2023 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final and Breeders Crown elim to his credit. The connections look for half-million dollar addition to that bankroll with a win this Saturday. Storm Shadow has post one in the 2024 Pepsi North America Cup final, carded as Race 10 this Saturday, at morning line odds of 15-1.

"He's very legitimate. He hasn't beat 1:50 yet, and I'm sure Saturday night he's going to have to do that. Hopefully he's going to get a trip off the rail...the rail's not necessarily a desired post here but, I'll tell you what, it's better than having the nine or ten hole."

Given that he's working from a post that's not optimal, Moore noted that his colt's versatility will be required and most certainly tested this Saturday with nine solid rivals lining up to his outside.

"He can leave good, he can get spotted. Hopefully he will leave out of there from the rail," opined Moore. "Bobby knows him very well, and he enjoys driving him as much as I enjoy training him."

McClure and Moore look to lift the North America Cup trophy in the winner's circle on Saturday, June 15 for the first time. McClure is making his third appearance in the 'Cup' final and his first since finishing second with the Moore-trained Tattoo Artist in 2020. This is Moore's eighth N.A. Cup final starter.

"We're looking forward to Saturday; hopefully it's going to be a good show for everybody, including ourselves."

Moore chats with SC's Jeff Porchak about the North America Cup elimination performances of Clever Cody and Storm Shadow, and looks ahead to Saturday's final in an interview available below.

First post time for Saturday’s card is 6:30 p.m. To view Saturday’s harness racing entries, click one of the following links: Pepsi North America Cup Night -- Saturday Entries || North America Cup Card Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT).

(Standardbred Canada)