Sophomores will kick off stakes season at MGM Northfield Park on Saturday, June 1 with two $65,000 USD divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Two-year-old Ohio Sires Stakes champion Clever Cody has a big schedule ahead of him this year, and will look to return to winning ways.
An earner of $415,810 in his freshman campaign, Clever Cody (The Panderosa-Cams Van Go) put together a remarkable season with seven wins in 10 starts.
Following his $300,000 Sires Stakes victory, his connections took the colt to Canada to try him against Grand Circuit competition in the Metro Stakes at Woodbine Mohawk Park. He won his elimination in 1:50.4 and finished a game third in the final.
After the Metro, the colt got some much-needed time off before reappearing in a pair of qualifiers at Southern Oaks Training Center in Florida, where he was second to two-time O'Brien Award-winning stablemate Stockade Seelster.
In May, he returned to pari-mutuel action with a decisive three-length victory in the opening leg of Ohio Sires Stakes action at Miami Valley Gaming, scoring (pictured above) in a lifetime best 1:50.1.
He shipped back to Mohawk to race against overnight company, and things never went his way, having broken equipment before the start, and was taken out of contention.
"We were unlucky at Mohawk," said trainer Dr. Ian Moore. "He caused a recall for broken equipment, we fixed it, then something else broke, it just wasn't his night."
The connections of Clever Cody have some high hopes, with some big stakes on the horizon. He is eligible for the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup at Mohawk on June 15 and could be supplemented to the $700,000 USD (est.) Meadowlands Pace at The Meadowlands on July 13.
"We have lots of confidence in Clever Cody. He trained in 1:50 at Mohawk and gate schooled; he is very fit," said Moore. "The plan for him, as long as everything goes well after this start, is to go to the Pepsi North America Cup eliminations on June 8."
The Clever Cody Stable of Cambridge, Ont. owns clever Cody.
Clever Cody and driver Aaron Merriman will take on No Joke Folks (Kurt Sugg), Seaside Relief (Elliott Deaton), Rock The Hill (Billy Davis Jr.), Outer Banks (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), Downbythedanceclub (Chris Page), Pariss Dragon (Chris Lems) and Howaboutaynakee (Trevor Smith) in race four.
In the first division, Rose Run Zane, who also won a division of the first leg of Ohio Sires Stakes at Miami Valley, will look to rebound off a sixth-place effort against stiff competition at Scioto Downs.
Rose Run Zane (Racing Hill-Mrs American Pie) had a successful two-year-old campaign with wins in multiple legs of the Ohio Sires Stakes and the Ohio Breeders Championship at Delaware (OH) in September.
While he battled some issues throughout the year, trainer Dan Venier thinks things will be better in his three-year-old campaign.
"He had an abscess in his foot that we battled all year; he has been healthy and sound this year. Hopefully, we can keep him that way," said Venier.
His return to the races got off to a rocky start, making a break at Miami Valley on March 12; it ended up, however, being one of the more impressive races in his career, as he gathered himself and finished a charging fourth.
After getting re-qualified, Rose Run Zane was second in a late closer at Miami Valley before dominating the last leg and the $47,297 final. He reeled off two more victories in an elimination and final of the Hackett at Miami Valley.
"He is an exceptional horse, with a lot of ability and intelligence," said Venier.
Owners John & Leann Saunders of Colorado are riding the coattails of a horse of a lifetime.
"The Saunders are wonderful people," said Venier. "Rose Run Zane is exactly what people wish for when you buy a yearling; he is a true blessing."
Rose Run Zane (Austin Hanners) will face Midwind Beach Boy (Chris Page), Hundred Dollar Man (Montrell Teague), Theheavyweightway (Trevor Smith), Racing Rebel (Billy Davis Jr.), Fear The Image (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Janell Granny (Aaron Merriman) in race two.
Live racing gets underway at 6 p.m. on Saturday at MGM Northfield Park, with 16 action-packed races on tap.
The Pick-5 (Race 6) went uncovered on Wednesday, May 29 and will sport a carryover of $5,195. The $1 wager will feature an estimated pool of $25,000 and, as always, sports the player-friendly 14 per cent takeout.
(MGM Northfield Park)