Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands was memorable this year for many Canadians, among them trainer Rene Dion.
His Ontario-sired pacing mare Shower Play produced one of the day’s unsung gems, a rallying, third-place finish at 49-1 in Shartin N’s world record 1:46.4 mile in the Lady Liberty.
“I’m ecstatic. Race-timed in 1:47.3, final quarter in :25.4. Amazing. That’s got to put her among the fastest Canadian-bred mares ever, if not the fastest. And she didn’t win. The other one (Shartin N) is simply a beast,” said Dion.
Some questioned why Dion had even shipped a mare who hadn’t won in four starts at Woodbine Mohawk Park in 2019, none of them stakes, after an outstanding three-year-old season that earned her an O’Brien Award in Canada.
“She’d actually been racing well (at Mohawk). One she lost (narrowly) in 1:49.4. It’s just a bit of an adjustment going from three-year-olds (in 2018) to open mares – there’s a big difference, and the races didn’t go her way,” said Dion, who co-owns the Shadow Play mare with Suzie Kerwood and Martin Leveille.
Shower Play, pictured victorious at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Dion said he took his time with the mare to help her with the transition. She was away from the races for nine months, and only started her season in June.
“We didn’t stake her that much (at four), preferring to pick and choose. There’s the Milton in September, the Allerage in Lexington, and after that the Breeders Crown and TVG. We’ve always had confidence in her. I told Dan (Dube, the driver) before the Lady Liberty, ‘I’m pretty sure you’ll like her.’ After the race, he really did.”
Third-place money in the Lady Liberty raised Shower Play’s career earnings to $550,000. She was a $15,000 yearling purchase.
To access a recap of Hambletonian Day 2019, click here. To read a recap and watch the replay of Forbidden Trade's big Hambletonian win, click here.
(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Paul Delean)
She is my favourite mare to
She is my favourite mare to watch race! Good luck with her.