Shadow Play wins elim, heads for final against SBSW

November 23, 2008

Shadow Play scored a decisive victory in his elimination for the $500,000 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Pace on Friday night at the Meadowlands, and the colt looms the biggest threat to powerhouse pacer Somebeachsomewhere in the Breeders Crown Final next Saturday, Nov. 29.

Driven by David Miller, Shadow Play motored through fractions of :28, :57.3 and 1:25.4 before edging away to a 1 1/4-length victory in 1:51.4. Rudy Rednose slid up the pylons in a swift :25.2 to nose out game first-up challenger Lisfinny for second.

Shadow Play�s owner-trainer Dr. Ian Moore passed on a bye to the Breeders Crown final and the decision paid off as he secured his choice of post position two with the victory. Trainer Brent MacGrath accepted the bye for Somebeachsomewhere, placing the colt into the open draw, which was conducted Saturday night. MacGrath quickly breathed a sigh of relief as Somebeachsomewhere drew post three. In their last match-up, Somebeachsomewhere caught Shadow Play in the final strides in the Messenger Stakes.

Shadow Play has won 14 of 24 starts and $1,048,446 this season. His accomplishments include the Little Brown Jug, Adios, Windy City Pace and American National. Moore co-owns the son of The Panderosa with Serge Savard, RG McGroup and Blue Chip Bloodstock. Blue Chip recently purchased an interest in the horse and has announced that he will race at four before retiring to stud.

Tug River Princess and Native Bride, both supplements to the Breeders Crown, captured their eliminations for the $610,000 Three-Year-Old Filly Pace.

Let It Ride, Robert Cooper Stables and Jerry Silva�s Tug River Princess is the top money winner in her division this year with $738,950, while Sears and TH Stable�s Native Bride has more pari-mutuel wins than any of her peers with 16 wins in 20 starts. The connections of the two fillies put $62,500 on the line to vie for a Breeders Crown title.

With John Campbell in the sulky, Tug River Princess came first-up to win her elimination by three quarters of a length over A and G�sconfusion in 1:52.3.

Native Bride extended her winning streak to seven races as she popped out of the pocket and edged away to a two-length tally over Kelly�s Keepsake in 1:52.2. The filly is driven by Brian Sears and now trained by his father, Jay Sears, who is bidding for his first Breeders Crown trophy. Native Bride sports a hefty $488,493 bankroll for Jay Sears and Matt Gallagher�s TH Stables. In their last meeting, Native Bride defeated Tug River Princess decisively in the Matron Stakes.

Chancey Lady captured the first of the three sophomore filly eliminations in 1:53.1 for driver Dan Dube and trainer Richard Bilach. The 3-Year-Old Filly Pace has been won four times by supplements, including 2001 Horse of the Year Bunny Lake and subsequent divisional champions Popcorn Penny, Odie's Fame and Burning Point.

Poster Pin Up rallied late to win the lone elimination for the $500,000 Three-Year-Old Filly Trot. The daughter of Andover Hall was clocked in 1:56.3 for the team of driver Brian Sears and trainer Trond Smedshammer.

Post positions for all four sophomore Breeders Crown divisions were drawn Saturday evening at the Meadowlands. The $4.9 million divisional championships for 2- and 3-year-old trotters and pacers have finals scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 29. Post time is 7 p.m. (Meadowlands)

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