Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Shadow Play captured the 2008, $551,225 Little Brown Jug at Delaware, Ohio on September 18 in rein to David Miller, but only a half-hour before the second heat, the pacer was hurting badly. The 3-year-old colt overcame a hoof separation to win, pulling away for a 6-length victory in the second leg of the pacing Triple Crown. The colt suffered the separation in winning the first elimination heat.

"He had shown no signs of lameness prior to the first heat of the race," said trainer Dr. Ian Moore, a veterinarian from Prince Edward Island in Canada.

After his first heat, Shadow Play was noticeably lame and Moore found the problem in the heel of his right front foot. It was questionable if Shadow Play he would be sound enough to return for the second heat. Moore and horseshoer Eric Wilt worked feverishly to get him ready for his biggest race. The colt was shod with a leather pad to alleviate the discomfort.

"Thirty minutes before the final heat, I wasn't sure he was going to be able to race," admitted driver David Miller.

Moore told Miller, "Take him out for the post parade for the second heat. If he's lame, just bring him back and we'll scratch him."

Miller found that Shadow Play was sound as he loosened up in the final minutes before the second heat. The black colt paced a mile in 1:50 1-5. He took the lead at start and set a slow pace and then pulled away in the final quarter. Shadow Play is owned in part by former National Hockey League star Serge Savard of Quebec along with trainer Moore and the R.G. McGroup of New Brunswick. The two-heat win in the Jug gave Shadow Play 12 wins in 21 starts.

The other qualifying heats for the Jug final were won by Lonestar Legend and prerace favorite Art Official. The first three finishers in each qualifying heat returned for the final heat. Shadow Play earned $255,768 in the Jug, bringing his 2008 earnings to $617,904.

After the race, Moore praised Shadow Play by saying, "Sometimes good athletes can play through pain."

For Miller, it was his second driving victory in the Little Brown Jug, a race that is particularly dear to him since he grew up in nearby Columbus.

"It feels great to win the Jug," said Miller. "It's something you dream about all your life."

Shadow Play and driver Miller won the first elimination heat in 1:50, a time which matched the fastest mile in the Jug history. Miller also won the second elimination with Lonestar Legend in 1:49 3-5, which broke the Jug record. That left driver David Miller with a choice of picking between Shadow Play or Lonestar Legend for the second heat.

"I came here to drive Shadow Play," said Miller in announcing his decision from the winner's circle after the second elimination heat. It proved to be the right choice.

Shadow Play's Racing Statistics as of October 1, 2008
Year Starts/Wins/2nds/3rds   Earnings Record       Track & Record Venue
2008    20       11        1      1      $591,446    3, 1:48.2F PcD 08/01/2008
2007     13        3        3       3      $29,877      2, 1:57.2S Moh 07/15/2007
Total    33      14     4       4       $621,323     3, 1:48.2F