Shadow Play Cruises to 1:50.4 Victory

Shadow Play, with a rapid brush down the stretch going to the half and holding off a late rally by Major General, won the $350,000 42^nd Delvin Miller Adios at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Saturday evening in 1:50.4.

Parked through a 25.2 opening quarter, driver David Miller took Shadow Play to the front before Pocono’s second turn and reached the half in 53.3.  Major General and Andy Miller had the perfect pocket trip while Sand Shooter (Tim Tetrick) and Mystery Chase (Brian Sears) made bids on the outside but faded before the three-quarters.

Reaching the last quarter pole in 1:21, Shadow Play and Major General pulled away from the field with Major General making one last bid up the passing lane.  However, Shadow Play gamely held on to a ½ length victory, posting a 29.4 last quarter.

“Time is sort of irrelevant, but he went a pretty tough trip last week,” said trainer Mark Ford.  “He got used a lot more going to the half this week and I was a little bit concerned but about halfway down the lane I knew that horse wasn’t going to get him and I felt a little bit better.”

“I really was glad they went to the format of having eliminations last week and the final this week rather than the two heats,” explained Ford.  “I think in this day in age heat racing is sort of a thing from the past and it really worked out a lot better for us.”

Lonestar Legend (Ron Pierce) went three wide before the three quarters and finished third, while Atochia (Dave Palone) finished fourth.

Shadow Play is owned by Dr. Ian Moore of Prince Edward Island, R.G. McGroup Ltd. Of New Brunswick and Serge Savard of Quebec.  The black colt by The Panderosa, out of the Matt’s Scooter mare Matt’s Filly, established a new world record for three-year-old colts on a five eighths mile track last week in his Adios elimination, pacing in 1:48.2.  He now has nearly $312,000 in career earnings.

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