The $19,300 Open Handicap Pace at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows on Friday (Oct. 28) could have been billed “The Battle of The Millionaires,” as it featured a pair of contenders, Backstreet Shadow and Sintra, with seven-figure career bank accounts.
In the end, though it was more coronation than battle, as the front-ending Backstreet Shadow drew away late to triumph by 5-1/4 lengths in 1:48.3, just a tick off Windsong Leo’s track record for older gelding pacers. Wild Wild Western was a ground-saving second while Sintra saw his three-race winning streak snapped when he tired from his first-over chase and finished third.
Dave Palone piloted Backstreet Shadow, a seven-year-old son of Shadow Play-Backstreet Sweetie who padded that bulging bankroll to $1,253,379, for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Larry Karr and J&T Silva – Purnel & Libby.
Palone and Burke each collected four wins on the 12-race card while Mike Wilder enjoyed a triple.
Live harness racing at The Meadows resumes Tuesday when the program features a pair of carryovers: $14,598.93 in the final-race Jackpot Super Hi-5, $8,621.60 in the Jackpot Pick 5 (race 4). First post is 12:45 p.m.
(MSOA)