Backstreet Shadow, undefeated in four starts since joining the powerful Burke Brigade, is the 2-1 favourite from post two for driver Tim Tetrick in a $30,000 Great Northeast Open Series (GNOS) event for fast-class pacers Sunday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
The Shadow Play gelding posted a 1:47.3 victory on Hambletonian Day, and last Saturday he won his GNOS debut at Pocono, making two moves and winning a photo in 1:49.2 on a sloppy track. Backstreet Shadow would need victory here and in next week’s final GNOS preliminary contest for his division at Pocono to give himself a chance at qualifying for his division’s $100,000 GNOS Championship at 1-¼ miles during the Monday, September 9 card at the mountain oval -- only four horses would have a bigger point total after this week’s racing than he would if he won both times.
Two of that quartet are the next two choices in the morning line after favourable draws. Our Max Phactor N (post one, trainer Andrew Harris, driver George Napolitano Jr., 7-2) has a win and two seconds in GNOS events, while the steady Scott Rocks (post four, trainer Hunter Oakes, driver George Brennan, 9-2) has two seconds, a third, and other good finishes in GNOS racing.
Others in Sunday’s nine-horse field for the fifth race GNOS contest are (from the remaining posts, inside-out) Im A Big Deal, Sweet Rock, Imarocnrollegend N, Shineonucrzydiamnd A, Prairie Panther (a GNOS winner earlier this month at Pocono), and Lyons Steel from the trailing post nine.
The 1-¼ mile $100,000 GNOS Championships, for open pacers, open trotters, and distaff pacers, as noted will be raced on the September 9 twilight card at Pocono, along with the eight $40,000 Championships of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series.
(Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, in conjunction with Harrah’s Philadelphia and The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono racetracks)