Shadow Play daughters Shadows Wonder and Brookdale Shadow provided Guelph resident Dr. Ian Moore with a small measure of consolation at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday evening as they battled to victory in their respective Grassroots divisions.
The fillies’ Ontario Sires Stakes success helped ease the disappointment felt in the Moore barn late last week when Arthur Blue Chip, another Shadow Play freshman, had to be scratched from Saturday night’s Metro Pace Final due to sickness. The colt had been installed as one of the favourites for the $683,000 Final after capturing his Aug. 24 elimination.
Shadows Wonder and driver Jack Moiseyev of Moffat started the mood-brightening in the second division with a charge around the final turn that saw them reel in the leaders and battle home to a half-length victory in 1:55. Artful Impulse paced into second, leaving pacesetter and fan favourite Somebaysomewhere to settle for third.
The win was the second straight for Shadows Wonder, who is owned by Moore, R G McGroup Ltd. of Bathurst, NB and Serge Savard of Saint-Bruno, QC. The partners also bred the daughter of Shadow Play and Putnams Wonder.
One race later Milton resident Randy Waples partnered with Moore’s second entry Brookdale Shadow, guiding the filly to a three-quarter length win in a personal best 1:55.1. Wishful Luck and favourite Hare To Eternity rounded out the top three.
Monday’s outing was Brookdale Shadow’s first in the Ontario Sires Stakes program. Up until late August the filly had been racing in the Maritimes for owners Douglas R. and Douglas E. Polley of Amherst, NB.
In the other three $18,000 divisions, point leader and heavy favourite Momara sprinted around the Mohawk oval to her fourth straight Grassroots victory, stopping the clock at 1:55.3; Stellllllla earned her first lifetime victory with a 1:54.3 effort; and favourite Skippin By paced to a personal best 1:53.4, trouncing the twelfth race field by eight lengths.
The freshman pacing fillies make their last regular season Grassroots start at Grand River Raceway Sept. 11.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement continues at Mohawk Racetrack next Monday, Sept. 9 with the regular season finale for the three-year-old pacing fillies.
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To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.