Shadow Play wins U.S. Pacing Championship

Little Brown Jug champ Shadow Play used a career-best effort to win the $328,750 U.S. Pacing Championship Saturday at the Meadowlands, tripping the timer in 1:47.4 for driver David Miller. The four-year-old son of The Panderosa, sent off at odds of 14-1, took control in the stretch before holding off a closing Mister Big and Brian Sears at the wire.

 

Saddled with the outside post in the field of seven, Miller left with the Ian Moore-trained stallion when the gate folded, pacing an opening quarter in :27. Bettor Sweet and John Campbell, third early in the mile, brushed to the lead on the backstretch, passing the half in :54 as 3-5 favorite Mister Big raced fourth behind Won The West.

 

With three-eighths to go, Sears pulled Mister Big first up and began to close on the leader as the field raced through the turn (1:21.2). Miller seized the opportunity as well, moving from the pocket and taking on Bettor Sweet, dispatching the leader in the stretch and quickly sprinting away. He would receive a challenge from Mister Big, looking for his third straight win in the U.S. Pacing Championship, but held off at the wire. Won The West swept up the rail to finish a close third.

 

Shadow Play is owned by Moore, R G McGroup LTD, Serge Savard and Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. The time knocked three-fifths of a second off his lifetime best. It was the third seasonal win for the stallion. The victory pushed his career earnings to more than $1.4 million.