World Record holder and recent Little Brown Jug winner Shadow Play fronts a field of eight sophomore pacers set to contest the $275,000 Windy City Pace at Maywood Park on Friday night.
Having last seen action in his World Record two-heat performance at Delaware more than two weeks ago, co-owner and trainer Dr. Ian Moore is ready to test the problematic hoof that nearly caused his star pacer to be scratched from the Jug finale.
"I think the hoof is good, but we'll know the whole answer Friday," Moore told Trot Insider. "He's missing a portion of the hoof wall on his right front but he's showing no lameness whatsoever."
Shadow Play (The Panderosa - Matts Filly) will once again retain the driving services of David Miller on Friday, and the duo line up as the likely favourites from Post 5. The biggest threats have all drawn inside Shadow Play with Mucho Sleazy (Mike Oosting), Badlands Nitro (Brian Sears) and Genuwine (Andy Miller) drawing Posts 1, 2, and 3 respectively.
"He's sharp. I'm a bit concerned about [the hoof] but it's time to see how it is. I'm trucking him down myself on Wednesday."
After Chicago, if all goes according to plan, Moore and Shadow Play will head back to Ontario before shipping to Mark Ford's training centre in New York for the Messenger elims on October 18. Owners Moore, Serge Savard and R G McGroup Ltd. will have to shell out a hefty supplemental fee to enter - $60,000 for the eliminations and possibly another $10,000 to race in the final.
"We'll have to supplement him there and possibly the Progress Pace at Dover Downs," stated Moore. "The Breeders Crown is the only one we're paid into."
Will Shadow Play be back on the track at four? That's still up the air, as Moore told Trot Insider that he has received some inquiries about standing at stud for 2009.
"I've had a few calls about getting the horse for a stud career but I haven't sat down with anyone and hammered out details."