World-record-holding pacers Somebeachsomewhere, who has won 17 of 18 career races and earned $2.5 million, and Shadow Play will start side by side in a field of six horses Saturday in the $650,000 Messenger Stakes at Yonkers Raceway in New York.

Shadow Play and driver David Miller will have the inside edge, with post five, while Somebeachsomewhere and pilot Paul MacDonell will begin from post six.

Last month, Somebeachsomewhere equaled Holborn Hanover's race record of 1:46.4 in winning a Bluegrass Stakes division at Lexington's Red Mile. The three-year-old colt also is the fastest three-year-old ever on a half-mile oval thanks to his 1:49.2 victory in the Confederation Cup in August at Flamboro Downs. And no two-year-old has bettered his mark of 1:49.3 he set last season in winning the Metro Pace at Mohawk Racetrack.

"He's good," trainer Brent MacGrath said Wednesday afternoon while transporting Somebeachsomewhere from Canada to New York. MacGrath co-owns the horse as part of the Schooner Stables, located in Nova Scotia. "He's strong. He's straight. He's healthy, happy, feeling good. I had him in the paddock (Wednesday) morning and he was tearing the place apart. We're ready."

Somebeachsomewhere (Mach Three-Wheres The Beach) has won seven consecutive races since suffering his only career setback by a neck to Art Official in the $1.1 million Meadowlands Pace in July. Art Official used a then-world-record 1:47 mile to edge "The Beach." Somebeachsomewhere's wins this season include the $1.4 million North America Cup, the $463,420 Confederation Cup and a $293,000 division of the Tattersalls.

"As long as he stays healthy and sound, what we've been doing has been working," MacGrath said.

Shadow Play, who is the fastest three-year-old in history on a five-eighths track, has won 12 of 21 races this year and earned $723,446. He is coming off victories in the $275,000 Windy City Pace and the $551,225 Little Brown Jug. He finished fifth to Somebeachsomewhere in the Confederation Cup final after winning an earlier heat. His triumphs also include the $350,000 Adios.

"I guess he's in good order," said trainer Dr. Ian Moore, a veterinarian who owns the colt with former NHL star Serge Savard and Ron and Gail McLellan. "Mark Ford jogged him for me this morning and I guess he was bucking and kicking out there. He was in good shape. The horse appears to be coming into the race really good."

Shadow Play, who is recovered from a foot injury suffered in the Little Brown Jug, has made 21 starts this season, the most of any horse in the Messenger field. He began racing in April, but has made only three starts over the past eight weeks because of his injury and gaps in his schedule.

"I was a little bit concerned about that because lots of times when you have gaps at this time of year it's tough to keep one sharp, to keep one tight," Moore said. "For this horse, it seems to have been a blessing. This time of year it's very difficult to keep a horse going this long. He seems to be hanging in there, and the more I'm training him the tougher he's getting. I trained him Saturday and he trained extra special there. I'm optimistic."

The Messenger is the third jewel in the Pacing Triple Crown. Art Official won the first, the Cane Pace, while Shadow Play claimed the second, the Little Brown Jug. Post time is estimated at 10 p.m. for the Messenger, which is race No. 10 on the card Saturday at Yonkers.

$650,000 Messenger Stakes

Post – Horse – Driver/Trainer

1. Legacy N Diamonds - TBA/C. Jamieson
2. Brother Ray - J. Bartlett/K. Rucker
3. Dali - P. Lachance/D. Marfisi
4. Santanna Blue Chip - R. Pierce/C. Jamieson
5. Shadow Play - D. Miller/I. Moore
6. Somebeachsomewhere - P. MacDonell/B. MacGrath

(HRC)