Shadow Play (horse)

Shadow Play (foaled 5 June 2005) is a world record holding standardbred racehorse. He was sired by The Panderosa, out of Matts Filly, a Matts Scooter mare. The colt was purchased as a yearling for $16 000, and is currently owned by Dr Ian Moore of Charlottetown, PEI, R G McGroup LTD of Bathurst, NB, and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, Serge Savard of Saint-Bruno, Quebec.

2 Year Old Campaign

Shadow Play made his racing debut on 21 June 2007 in Charlottetown, PEI. With owner/trainer Dr Ian Moore at the controls, he powered away from a field of maiden pacers to win by 4-1/2 lengths.

Shortly thereafter, Dr Moore shipped the colt to Ontario where he raced for the remainder of his 2-year-old year. He finished 2nd in 2 legs of the Dream Maker Pacing Series, followed by a 4th in the final.

The highlight of his year was a 3rd place finish in an elimination of The Metro Pace at Mohawk. Stricken with another outside post, Shadow Play never really got into the race despite pacing his own mile in 1:51-3/5.

Shadow Play completed his freshman campaign with a mark of 1:57.2 (taken at Mohawk Racetrack) while compiling 3 wins, 3 seconds, and 3 thirds in 13 starts earning $31,151.

3 Year Old Campaign

On 12 April 2008, Shadow Play surfaced for his sophomore year with an eye-catching 1:58 qualifier in Charlottetown, where he was 14 lengths the best. He returned to the track one week later to make his parimutuel debut, where he once against overpowered the field by 13 lengths for a 1:56 victory.

Shadow Play's next start came in the Diplomat Pacing Series at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, ON where he return a winner in a new career best 1:52-1/5. After winning both his starts in the initial legs of the Diplomat, Shadow Play was sent away as favourite in the final where he finished a fading 4th.

On 1 July 2008, Shadow Play made his racing debut for high-profile trainer Mark Ford. Leaving from the outside at Pocono Downs, a 5/8-mile track in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Shadow Play finished an impressive third after being parked every step. The winner, Upfront Hannahsboy, set a new track record for 3-year-old colt & gelding pacers by virtue of his 1:49-2/5 victory.

Shadow Play then reeled off two consecutive victories at Pocono Downs, winning in 1:50-1/5 and 1:49-4/5, before breaking stride in a Pennsylvania Sires Stake event at The Meadows near Pittsburgh, PA.

On 1 August 2008, Shadow Play created buzz around the racing world with his eye-popping victory in an elimination of the Coors Delvin Miller Adios. With leading Grand Circuit driver David Miller in control, Shadow Play eased off the gate before making his move. Clearing just before the half, Shadow Play opened up by 2 lengths on the field and maintained that advantage as he powered home in a world record, for 3-year-old colt & gelding pacers on a 5/8-mile track, 1:48-2/5. This mile was 2/5-seconds from the all-aged world record, and tied the 2nd-fastest mile on a 5/8th-mile track ever. He returned 8 days later to capture the $350,000 final of the Adios with a time of 1:50-4/5.

On 9 September 2008, it was announced that Shadow Play was named Horse of the Year at Pocono Downs.

On 18 September 2008, Shadow Play once again stepped his way into the record books. In his first heat of the Little Brown Jug, Shadow Play tied Mr Feelgood's stakes record of 1:50 scoring over Badlands Nitro. Though that record was broken in the next race, by Lonestar Legend, Shadow Play returned to capture the Little Brown Jug winning the second heat in a time of 1:50.1, setting a new two-heat world record for 3-year-old pacing colts.

10 October 2008 marked another milestone for Shadow Play as he returned a first-up winner over Badlands Nitro in the $275,000 Windy City Pace at Maywood Park. The time of 1:50.4 sets a new stakes record, lowering the 1:51.3 mark set in last year's edition by Booze Cruzin.

Racelines

takes Eligibility

* [http://www.hambletonian.org/staking/eligibles/BC%2021%20final.pdf Breeders Crown] (Nov 22/29, 2008 - Meadowlands Race Track, NJ)

External links

* [http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/iss1008/shadowplaywindycity1010.html Shadow Play Wins Windy City Pace]
* [http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/iss1008/windycityshadowplay1007.html Shadow Play Headlines Windy City Pace]
* [http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/iss0908/shadplayraringtogo0924.html Moore: Shadow Play Sound, Raring to Go]
* [http://www.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=29048&z=1 Shadow Play's Heel Heals]
* [http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/iss0908/shadowplayupdate0922.html Dr. Moore Gives Shadow Play Update]
* [http://www.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=28994&z=1 Shadow Play Wins 63rd Little Brown Jug]
* [http://www.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=28955&z=1 Canadian Vet Trains Top Jug Contender]
* [http://www.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=28947&z=1 NHL Hall of Famer Seeks Jug Victory]
* [http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/iss0908/shadowplaying0915.html Moore High on Shadow Play's Jug Chances]
* [http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/iss0908/fieldsetforlittlebrownjug0913.html Field Set for Little Brown Jug]
* [http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/iss0808/ccupelims0817.html Confederation Cup Elims Complete, Final Set]
* [http://www.theharnessedge.com/news.asp?Mode=View&Story=28295 Shadow Play to be Honored at Pocono]
* [http://www.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=28408&z=1 Shadow Play Wins Adios Final at Pocono]
* [http://www.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=28374&z=1 'Babysitting' a World Record Holder]
* [http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/iss0808/shadowplayadios0806.html Shadow Play Favoured in Delvin Miller Adios]
* [http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/iss0808/shadowplaysaysadios0801.html World Record for Shadow Play in Adios]