Dr. Ian Moore and the entire team surrounding 2008 Little Brown Jug winner Shadow Play were put into flat-out scramble mode yesterday before the horse qualified this morning at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky
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Shadow Play, the four-year-old son of The Panderosa, was scheduled to qualify during yesterday's qualifying session at Mohawk Racetrack. Monday marked the 30th day since Shadow Play's last charted mile. The horse needed to record a charted line in order to be eligible for the Red Mile's upcoming stakes events.
Shadow Play has not raced since his August 29 elimination for the Canadian Pacing Derby. He was subsequently scratched 'sick' from the rich $685,000 final on September 5 and hadn't raced since.
Early Monday morning rains washed out the Mohawk qualifying session, and thus 'Team Shadow Play' was forced to call an audible.
"I called Grand River (Raceway) and was looking to then get him to qualify there," Dr. Moore explained to Trot Insider, "but then they cancelled (due to the same weather) and we had a real problem."
Dr. Moore told Trot Insider that his next Ontario option in terms of qualifying was Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Windsor Raceway, thus not an option if he was looking to his horse to make the Red Mile box in time.
Out of options, Dr. Moore was forced to shell out a couple of thousand dollars and to get millionaire Shadow Play onto a Doyle truck en route to Kentucky to qualify today. "He shipped out at 2:00 p.m. yesterday and finished his ship at 12:40 this morning."
Since he was in to go in the fifth Red Mile qualifier this morning, the horse was warming up on the track at 9:00 this morning -- a quick and rushed turnaround to say the least.
Dr. Moore was in back home in Prince Edward Island this morning, but spoke to driver David Miller after Shadow Play finished up his victorious, front-stepping qualifier in 1:52.1. The winning margin was one length. The fractions were cut in :27.4, :55.4 and 1:24.3 and Shadow Play closed off his mile with a :27.3 final quarter.
"David said he was good," said Dr. Moore, who also told Trot Insider that Shadow Play had previously trained on Friday -- the first time in four weeks.
The trainer also said that Shadow Play's shoes are currently glued on, as the walls of the horse's feet have been in rough shape, but successfully bolstered recently by blacksmith Jeff Boyd.
Shadow Play is being pointed to the eliminations for the Allerage Stakes this coming Saturday at the Red Mile. Dr. Moore said that if eliminations are not needed, he will be looking to get him into a race this Saturday regardless for a tightener. The $180,000 (estimated) Allerage is to be raced Saturday, October 10.
Giving the strenuous circumstances Shadow Play has faced over the past couple of weeks, Trot Insider asked Dr. Moore how he thought his charge would be this weekend. "He's a tough horse -- he's proved that to everyone," Dr. Moore said.
"It's just been one thing after another with him this year," said Dr. Moore, "almost like it's not meant to be."
I had the privlege of being
I had the privlege of being stabled in the same barn as these connections. Not only is Shadow Play a world class athlete but Doc and Teabag (Darryl) are also a class act. They deserve all the success they have recieved this past summer and the great job that Jeff has done with the corrective shoeing has also paid off. Great job guys and good luck Saturday
"Fully" understanding Mike
"Fully" understanding Mike Keeling's sentiments and concerns, first and foremost..."rules" are rules, and in this case, it is spelled out in black and white! Also, what body determines "who" is a world-class athlete (in this case "horses") and who isn't??? With everyone aware of the guidelines that have been pre-determined, "NO" issues/questions should arise because of them! In comparison to other athletes in other sports, let's take GOLF for instance...we all know who the best in the world is, BUT he (Tiger Woods) has to meet the criteria for certain events just like everyone else...case in point, the recent FedEx Cup!!! He had to qualify through his participation/performance throught-out 2009...
NB "No" disrespect to Shadow Play and Dr. Moore in regards to my opinion!!!
The fact that a world-class
The fact that a world-class athlete such as Shadow Play must qualify to prove his fitness to race is proof of how antiquated and pathetic the qualifying rules in most jurisdictions in North America are. Time to take a closer look at qualifying standards, not just Kentucky but everywhere.