SBSW defeats Shadow Play in 1:48.3, but isn't done, yet

After suffering his only career loss at the Meadowlands back in July in the epic duel with Art Offical in the  Meadowlands Pace, Somebeachsomewhere took control early, set the fractions and held off a game Shadow Play to win the $500,000 Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt and gelding pace in 1:48.3 Saturday night at the Meadowlands. But the race isn’t his last.

Trainer Brent MacGrath announced that the owners got together in the Breeders Crown winner’s circle and decided to take  the colt to Dover Downs for the Matron Stakes. Eliminations are scheduled for Dec. 8 and the final on Dec. 15.

Shadow Play and Shadow Play started side-by-side, with Shadow Play in post two and SBSW in post three. The two favorites fought for the early lead with SBSW prevailing in a :27 opening quarter and Blueridge Western settling third.

SBSW cruised to the half in :54.3 and the three quarters in 1:22. He then turned on a :26.3 final panel to post the victory, his 14^th in 15 starts this year and 20^th in 21 career starts.

“I had the racetrack immediately and I was just letting the horses get settled early and once they did and got to the rail I just let him pace on to the front and the rest was history,” said SBSW’s driver Paul MacDonell.

MacDonell said that as he was coming down the stretch he was thinking, “Bring me home, buddy. One last time and let’s enjoy this.”

Considering the colt temperature at race time, trainer Brent MacGrath said SBSW’s performance on this evening “was ever bit as impressive a mile as Lexington,” where he set his 1:46.4 world record. “He came home in :26.3 off a half in :54.3, I certainly wasn’t expecting a mile in 1:48.”

SBSW heads to Dover with a single-season earning’s record of $2,448,003 and $3,221,299 for his career for the Schooner Stables.

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