Dr. Ian Moore, Serge Savard, and R. G. McGroup Ltd. (Gail and Ron McLellan) are pleased to announce that they have partnered with Blue Chip Farms on World Champion, Shadow Play.
All parties look forward to campaigning the million dollar winner in 2009 with the intention to retire Shadow Play to stud duty in 2010 at Blue Chip's Wallkill, NY facility.
According to co-owner (and trainer) Dr. Moore, there were two major factors that influenced the Canadian owners of Shadow Play to sell an interest to Blue Chip: 1) the enthusiasm for all parties to race in 2009 and 2) the ability to eventually stand the horse in New York at a top class facility.
A son of The Panderosa, Shadow Play set a world record of p,3,1:48.2f winning the Adios Elimination. He went on to win the $350,000 Adios Final the following week. From there he never looked back. Since his efforts in the Adios he went onto be victorious in the elimination and final of the Little Brown Jug (in a blistering stakes record 1:50h first heat and 1:50.1h final-setting the world record for two heats), Windy City Pace, and American National.
He was also second by a neck to the freakishly good legend of a race horse Somebeachsomewhere in the Messenger. Shadow Play's next stop will be the 2008 Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands.
(Blue Chip Farms)
great to see someone not
great to see someone not afraid to race their horse, unlike others that will go unmentioned. All the best in the breeders crown. Win the elim, take the rail and take no prisoners!
Harness racing needs this badly, enough of horses racing a handful of starts, declaring themselves champions without ever really being tested. Go SHADOWPLAY!
I think not only is it a
I think not only is it a great move for the industry I hope it translates into an even better move for the connections. This horse is one super horse, second this year only to the Beach. Art Official and the others are smart to stand stud as they would not be able to beat this horse next year. Art had the one amazing race and some decent ones but just the fact that he beat the Beach is all he cared about for his stud duty. This horse will have a chance next year as he gets even better to show what a truly awesome horse he is. He will probably smash many of the existing records and potentially be a regular 147 preformer. With Artistic Fella coming back next year we should see some amazing miles. I think it will really hinder Mr big chances at any kind of big season again unless he tries to avoid Shadow Play and go just for money at other tracks. With 2 big front running horses like him and Artistic Fella and the speed they will be going we will really get a chance to see if Mr Big is all that. His owners quoted as saying he wished some horse could cut some fractions for his horse like they have the Beach. (He was butting his own fractions) and anytime fractions were cut and the mile went to fast Mr Big wasnt winning. This horse much like thje beach has the heart to go to the front and stay there. All the best to him as I think he will have 1 of the best older campaigns in history with him and in turn will benefit him at the stud bard. Best of luck and Classy move. Hope to see you on the Island next year.
In reply to I think not only is it a by Trevor O (not verified)
Mr Big when more first up
Mr Big when more first up trips then any horse I can recall in the toughtest racing in North American, the aged pacing division!! Unlike one certain horse that only went first up once in his very short list of races. Try going first up race after race and that will determine whether your greatness!!
Mr Big was there for all to try, he dodged no one unlike a certain party that didn't have the stomach to face the biggest three year old race in North america!
Great to see this great
Great to see this great horse back. We raced against him confederation cup and he was great
to bad he didnt draw insuide for the final. He has got to be one of the most
beautiful standardbreds I have even seen., sleek, dark and great gait
GREAT MOVE DR MOORE....I
GREAT MOVE DR MOORE....I hope he makes another million or more at four...Even Santanna has gone on to the Stud Barn for 09 and Shadow Play is a much better horse/credentials 08
Great Move for the Sport!! He will be another Real Desire story!
Now if we could just get
Now if we could just get "the beach" to the gold cup and saucer in '09?
Vance Cameron (announcer at
Vance Cameron (announcer at CDPEC) and others thought that the 2008 Gold Cup and Saucer was the most exciting of all time - wait until Shadow Play is among the entries, CRAZY GOOD!!!
Awesome to see the gritty
Awesome to see the gritty little horse come back as a four year old!
Tip of the hat to the
Tip of the hat to the connections of Shadow Play. In an era with a dwindling fan base its refreshing to see a recognizable name return to race as an aged horse that the fans can connect to. Just when a horse makes a name for itself it disappears off the face of the map never to be heard of again. I understand the risk involved in racing these animals for another campaign, but the industry continues to flounder because of a lack of recognizable equine athletes.
I hope you take him to
I hope you take him to Yonkers for the Levy Memorial Series in the spring !
What a cool horse!! When
What a cool horse!! When you stand him at stud will you take Canadian $$ at par?!!
Are you going to bring him
Are you going to bring him back home for the Gold Cup and Saucer? By the way great move!!!!
Great to see people who
Great to see people who don't sell out at the first sign of big bucks. Unlike other Maritimes who sold out without ever racing back home, I expect to see the great Shadow Play in the 2009 Gold Cup & Saucer in Charlottetown. Bravo to the connections for considering the good of the sport.
Way to go Shadow Play, hope
Way to go Shadow Play, hope you have an outstanding 4 year old campaign. This decision looks good on all of you, Shadow Play's legion of fans should be very pleased. Congratulations.
Are there any plans to stand
Are there any plans to stand him in the Southern Hemisphere???
This move/decision will put
This move/decision will put people back in the grandstand. Horses of this caliber are rare, and always attract a following. I'll wish he becomes a great 4yr old, and if so I know he will re-write the books. Good on you IAN/Mr.MOORE.
Paul
This is a great boost to the
This is a great boost to the industry. It is too bad that more of the best 3 year olds are put out to stud. We need to see more of this happening. Congradulations and all the best in your 4 year old compaign.
You're the man Doc! What a
You're the man Doc! What a great decision to keep him going - for racing in general and hopefully for fans of the Gold Cup & Saucer in particular.
It is nice to see these
It is nice to see these people racing Shadow Play at the age of four. It is a shame that more of the good three year old horses (like Somebeachsomewhere) wouldn't do the same. The sport is suffering big time and I think the main reason is that 95% of its Super Stars are standing in the breeding shed. If the Tracks could figure out a way to spread the money out better then going for it all when the horses are 2 and 3 years old everybody would be far better off. I hope Dr. Ian Moore, Serge Savard, and Gail and Ron McLellan have a great time next year racing this fellow. Looks to me that the 1:50 barrier will be broke next year in Charlottetown.
Great to see a top-notch
Great to see a top-notch 3-year-old making a return at 4. It's almost unheard of nowadays.
In reply to Great to see a top-notch by Trevor (not verified)
YES! Great move Moore! u and
YES! Great move Moore! u and your parnter's are giving back to the sport what so many just give away for the money! don't worry I'm sure you'll still manage to get by!lol! anyways, its a real classy decision! what will it be Moore? the big money pacing series? or the gold cup? you could be the first 1:49 in Charlottetown's history.
In reply to YES! Great move Moore! u and by bigdaddycool (not verified)
Thats it Dr Moore go win the
Thats it Dr Moore go win the Gold Cup and saucer that would be great. Thanks for all the good times this year and hope for lots more next year
In reply to Great to see a top-notch by Trevor (not verified)
anticipation!
anticipation!
In reply to Great to see a top-notch by Trevor (not verified)
Great move. It was very
Great move. It was very enjoyable summer watching this fine animal race, kuddos to all of you. Best of luck in '09. It would be nice to see him race on PEI in mid August for sure. What a boost for the industry if he was paid into the Atlantic Standardbred Sire Stakes Program.