Shadow Play shines in 2009 debut

The superstar pacer Shadow Play made his highly anticipated return to racing on Sunday night at Mohawk Racetrack, and successfully scored in a 4-year-old Open Pace for driver Paul MacDonell in 1:51.1.

Developed in Prince Edward Island by his co-owner Dr. Ian Moore, Shadow Play is coming off an incredible 3-year-old season in which he won 14 of 25 races and $1,173,446.

It was a campaign made more remarkable by the fact he was often facing the great Somebeachsomewhere, a colt widely considered to be one of the best of all-time.

Shadow Play's finest hour came on Sept. 18 at Delaware, Ohio, when he overcame a serious foot injury to win the Little Brown Jug in straight heats. The injury was discovered between heats and a special shoe was quickly put on for the final.

Shadow Play was able to put the pain behind him and turned in one of the most heroic Jug performances in history, winning the final by more than six lengths, in 1:50.1.

Just over one month later, he pushed Somebeachsomewhere right to the finish in the $650,000 Messenger Stakes final at Yonkers Raceway, missing by just a neck on a cold, windy night in New York.

Shadow Play has spent this past winter at Moore’s home base of Winsloe, Prince Edward Island, where he was trained down before qualifying just eight days ago at the Charlottetown Driving Park, in 1:53.4.

Considering the hectic schedule, Moore was very satisfied with his initial effort.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more considering,” Moore said. “He should actually be a little tired because I trained him a big trip at my track Tuesday, qualified him on Saturday, and then shipped him right up here to race.

“As far as the foot goes, its totally healed. It grew back out in just six months, which is amazing, so I don’t anticipate any issues with it this year. The plan from here is to enter the Molson Pace eliminations in London.”

For MacDonell, who drove Shadow Play a couple of times at age two, it was nice to sit back up behind the pacer he faced as his opposition so often last season.

“He is an impressive animal,” MacDonell said. “It’s pretty evident when he steps on the track, he really catches peoples eye. He definitely gives you that same impression as when you sit behind ‘Beach’ (Somebeachsomewhere) as far as his class and his power. I have no doubt he’ll be able to step up and go with the big boys.”

Shadow Play's ownership group also includes RG McGroup Ltd. of Bathurst, N.B. and former Montreal Canadian great Serge Savard of Quebec. Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. of New York bought into the pacer at the end of last season, and will stand him at their Walkill nursery following his 4-year-old campaign. (WEG)

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