Won The West defeats fastest field ever in Breeders Crown

Western Hanover son Won The West outlasted Shadow Play and Art Official to take the Breeders Crown Final last night in a stunning 1.47 clocking!!!! For those that thought the billing of fastest six horse field ever was hype, take a look at the closing times:

H PP Horse 1/4 1/2 3/4 STR Fin Time Last Q Odds Driver Trainer

1 1 Won The West(L) 3 4 4 3-1 1/2 1-1 1/4 1:47.0 25.3 15.70 J Morrill Jr R Burke

2 2 Shadow Play 2 2 2 2-1/4 2-1 1/4 1:47.1 26.1 *1.50 D Miller I Moore

4 4 Art Official 1 1 1 1-1/4 3-1 1/4 1:47.1 26.2 2.80 R Pierce J Seekman

3 3 Bettor Sweet(L) 4 3o 3o 4-2 1/4 4-2 1:47.2 26.1 22.90 J Campbell J Poliseno

6 6 Shark Gesture(L) 6 6o 6 6-4 1/4 5-3 1:47.3 25.3 6.60 T Tetrick L Remmen

5 5 Mister Big(L) 5 5o 5o 5-3 3/4 6-3 1/2 1:47.3 26.0 2.00 B Sears V Morgan Jr


Imagine that; the last place finisher, Mister Big, is timed in a stakes-record 1.47.3!!! It may be years before we see another race with a last place equine timed in 1.47.3!!!

Shadow Play works out in 1.53.4 at CDP, ships East

Doc Moore has Shadow Play Ready To Roll

After setting a track record of 1.55 on his home training oval earlier in the week, Shadow Play paced a mile in front of a large crowd at the Charlottetown Driving Park yesterday afternoon. Stopping the teletimer at 1.53.4 on his own, Shadow looks ready begin the prep races in Ontario (against sharp, tough horses like Ramegade Bruiser)required to get him ready for the likes of Mister Big, Dali, Art Official and other contenders in the major pacing stakes races for aged horses in 2009.

Shadow Play trains in 1:58, readies for qualifier at Charlottetown Driving Park

Dr. Ian Moore reports that Shadow Play is tuning up nicely and will be qualifying as soon as next Saturday.

"With a decent track (off a tick) and a strong wind, Shadow paced his last of 3 training miles at his home track in 1:58 flat, first and last quarters in 29. He was very strong and all continues to be well."


Dr. Ian Moore training report on Shadow Play



Have you been wondering how Beach is doing in his new career as a standardbred pacing stallion? I was, and was pleased to get this good news from Adam Bowden's Diamond Creek Farms blog:

"He did it on the racetrack and he has continued his dominance in the breeding shed. Again, I can only comment on what I see but the numbers speak for themselves. We have bred six mares to Somebeachsomewhere and all six have been pronounced in foal. Five of the six mares were only covered once and the sixth mare was covered a second time because she didn't ovulate when bred the first time. The mares we bred to Somebeachsomewhere range from 18 year old Can Du River to maiden Loving Caroline, to foal-heat bred Loyal Opposition. I know I don't speak for everyone, with respect to the semen quality, but I couldn't be happier with the numbers we have received."

Hoping to hear more good news about Beach offspring on the way.

Maritimes harness racing fans will likely never see another year like 2008, but if Shadow can stand up well against Mister Big, Dali and other top pacers, there could be more good news coming for PEI.

Shadow Play to get Hero’s Welcome Saturday at Charlottetown Driving Park

Shadow Play, a son of The Panderosa out of Matts Filly by Matts Scooter, is scheduled to arrive back home in P.E.I. this week. He'll get the winter off before returning to racing in 2009 to face Art Official and all the older horses. Shadow Play is set to stand at stud for Blue Chip Farms in 2010, and Maritimes harness racing fans will be cheering him on big time next year.

The brilliant colt is trained by Dr. Ian Moore of Winsloe, and owned by PEI's Doc Moore, Quebec's Serge Savard and the RG Group (Ron and Gail McLellan) of New Brunswick. Shadow Play is expected to stand for Blue Chip in the USA and in either Australia or New Zealand. Even racing there isn't out of the question.

"I would love to come for a visit ‘Down Under. Your industry is very progressive and a lot of your horses compete well up here. It's something I have always wanted to do," said PEI's Moore.

Regarding his highly anticipated return to Prince Edward island, his trainer was looking forward to the appreciation.

"We will be taking him home on Tuesday in his newly bought trailer and the Charlottetown Driving Park is holding a ‘Shadow Play day' on Saturday afternoon. We are pitching in with some purse money and giveaways. It should be a great day," Dr Moore said.












Full story on Shadow Play's return to Charlottetown PEI on HarnessLink.com

Charlottetown Driving Park official website

Shadow Play to race in 2009, stand at Blue Chip Farms in 2010 - The Guardian

USTrotting.com Honours Maritime Canada Racehorses

The year 2008 in standardbred horse racing will always be remembered as a treasure for harness racing fans from Atlantic Canada, for never in our lifetimes will we expect to see another crop as powerful and entertaining as Somebeachsomewhere, Shadow Play and Santanna Blue Chip.










With the Breeders Crown standardbred stakes championship this Saturday 29NOV08, many racing fans will be watching Deweycheatumnhowe, Muscle Hill and other 2008 trotting and pacing stars, but folks from the Canadian Maritimes provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island will be focused on Shadow Play (incl. Habs great Serge Savard along with PEI and NB owners) and "Beach" (owned by NS and NB people), the fastest pacer ever and a truly exciting athlete for the ages.











Here's an excerpt from the excellent UStrotting.com article on Maritime horses in the 2008 Breeders Crown:



East Rutherford, NJ --- A thousand miles away from the bright lights of Broadway and the incandescent oval that is the Meadowlands Racetrack sit the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, collectively known as The Maritimes.

The region's 1.8 million residents are blessed with abundant natural resources, including skilled horsemen and passionate harness racing fans who will have rooting interests in the nearly $6 million in purses distributed in eight Breeders Crown races that highlight the program on Saturday night, November 29, at the Meadowlands.

Some portion of those millions could well be returning to the Maritimes thanks to the pride of Nova Scotia and Horse of the Year contender Somebeachsomewhere and his prime competition, Shadow Play, who carries the hopes of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

Additionally, Maritime-born trainers Greg Peck, Carl Jamieson, Jeffrey Gillis, and Angus MacDonald, as well as Hall of Fame driver Bill O'Donnell, will be among those seeking Breeders Crown trophies.

"Somebeachsomewhere has become a folk hero in the Maritimes," noted Doug Harkness, a journalist who has been chronicling the story for the paper he publishes, the Atlantic Post Calls, and other newspapers in the region, including The Guardian, Truro Daily News, New Glasgow News and the Summerside Journal Pioneer.

Somebeachsomewhere, who comes into the $500,000 Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt pace with 19 wins in 20 lifetime starts, will wrap up his racing career on Saturday night. He is trained by Brent MacGrath, who is also a member of the ownership, the Schooner Stables of Westchester Station, Nova Scotia.

"His connections are Nova Scotians, but the horse has a great following throughout the Maritime Provinces," said Harkness. "Brent MacGrath, a car salesman from Truro, has been a hobby horseman for years -- he once had a small stable at the old Greenwood Raceway in Truro, where he met and became great friends with Paul MacDonell, who has driven Somebeachsomewhere in all of his races."

Somebeachsomewhere is closing in on the $3 million mark in career earnings.
It was MacGrath who put together the partnership of six, each of whom invested $10,000, to head to the fall 2006 sales to buy a yearling. At the Lexington Selected Sale, he spotted Somebeachsomewhere, the son of Mach Three-Wheres The Beach, and paid $40,000. The 3-year-old has a bankroll of $2,971,299, thanks to his string of stakes victories, including the North America Cup.

"Brent and Reg Petitpas of Shediac Bridge, New Brunswick, are the only two members of the stable with a racing background," explained Harkness. "Petitpas has owned horses for about 30 years and co-owns the good invitational horse Silent Swing, a winner of more than $1 million and a solid third-place finisher in this year's William R. Haughton. He also co-owns the 3-year-old Giddy Up Lucky, who was fifth in the Little Brown Jug.


Full article on Somebeachsomewhere and Shadow Play in 2008 Breeders Crown pacing final

Shadow Play picks 2 hole, Beach draws 3; Dewey gets post 8

The post positions for the 3 year old Breeders Crown stakes races at The Meadowlands next Saturday, November 29th have been published.


Post positions for sophomore Breeders Crown divisions were drawn Saturday evening at the Meadowlands. The $4.9 million championships for two- and three-year-old trotters and pacers have finals scheduled for Saturday, Post time 7:00 p.m.

3YO Colt Pace - PP, Horse, Driver, Trainer

1, Blueridge Western, D Palone, K Mc Dermott
2, Shadow Play, D Miller, I Moore
3, Somebeachsomewhere, P MacDonell, B MacGrath
4, Share The Delight, Y Gingras, L Toscano
5, Dali, TBA, D Marfisi
6, Rudy Rednose, B Sears, G Teague Jr
7, Blue Claw, M Lachance, M Ford
8, Mystery Chase, G Brennan, D Russell
9, Bettor Sweet, C Manzi, J Poliseno
10, Lisfinny, J Campbell, R Mc Intosh

Somebeachsomewhere and Dali accepted byes into the final.


3YO Colt Trot - PP, Horse, Driver, Trainer

1, John Paul's Legacy, Angus Mac Donald, Angus Mac Donald
2, Holiday Credit, Ron Pierce, Jimmy Takter
3, In Focus, Dave Palone, Jimmy Takter
4, Broadway Marquis, Wim Paal, Wim Paal
5, Napoleon, Brian Sears, Noel Daley
6, Make It Happen, Ray Schnittker, Ray Schnittker
7, Cloud Casino, David Miller, Ross Croghan
8, Deweycheatumnhowe, Ray Schnittker, Ray Schnittker
9, Celebrity Secret, John Campbell, Staffan Lind
10, Crazed, Tim Tetrick, Frank Antonacci
11, Clerk Magistrate, Trevor Ritchie, Per Henriksen

All 11 entrants advanced to the final.


3YO Filly Trot - PP, Horse, Driver, Trainer

1, Somebody To Love, D Miller, R Croghan
2, Poster Pin Up, B Sears, T Smedshammer
3, No Pain No Gain, D Dube, J Czernyson
4, Feels Like Magic, W O' Donnell, R Norman
5, Stage Show, D Palone, J Campbell
6, Creamy Mimi, T Smedshammer, T Smedshammer
7, Kadealia, T Tetrick, G Teague Jr
8, Lantern Kronos, J Campbell, J Takter
9, Bella Dolce, P MacDonell, R Norman
10, Epangeline, R Schnittker, R Schnittker

Creamy Mimi, Lantern Kronos and Bella Dolce accepted byes into the final.


3YO Filly Pace - PP, Horse, Driver, Trainer

1, Tug River Princess, J Campbell, R Croghan
2, Knock Three Times, A Miller, E Miller
3, Native Bride, B Sears, J Sears
4, Chancey Lady, D Dube, R Bilach
5, A and G'sconfusion, D Miller, C Coleman
6, Hannah Isabel, Y Gingras, J Drolet
7, Btwnurheartnmine, T Tetrick, R Croghan
8, Kelly's Keepsake, R Pierce, E Miller
9, Stylish Artist, D Miller, R Croghan
10, Good News Lady, G Grismore, J Takter




Saturday's Breeder's Crown racing card at Meadowlands in New Jersey will likely be the final racing performances of Somebeachsomewhere and Deweycheatumnhowe, as they head off to stud, but the Blue Chip connections of Shadow Play have announced he'll race at 4 before stallion duties the following year. 2009 may provide some great Art Official / Shadow Play duels, assuming each can come back healthy.

Shadow Play draws post 6 for Breeders Crown Elim; Beach, Dali head to final

While Somebeachsomewhere and Dali are taking the week off and entering straight into the final, Shadow Play is taking the opportunity to use the elimination as a tuneup. He drew post position six and is facing the likes of Upfront Hannahsboy, Mystery Chase, Bettor Sweet and Share The Delight.


6th - Sixth Race Purse: $25,000

Distance: 1mi PACE


PP Horse Driver Best Last 3

1 Blue Claw M Lachance 1:50.1 2-8-4

2 Mystery Chase G Brennan 1:49.2 1-6-1

3 Lisfinny J Campbell 1:50.1 1-8-1

4 Share The Delight Y Gingras 1:50.2 1-6-1

5 Rudy Rednose B Sears 1:52.3 2-2-5

6 Shadow Play D Miller 1:48.2 1-2-1

7 Upfront Hannahsboy T Tetrick 1:49.2 1-6-4

8 Blueridge Western D Palone 1:50.1 1-2-2

9 Bettor Sweet C Manzi 1:49.3 1-3-2

10 Riggins R Schnittker 1:54.1 7-4-6


Deweycheatemnhowe and the other 3 year old colt trotters all drew straight into the Breeders Crown Finals, November 29th at The Meadowlands. The final race of Somebeachsomewhere, and likely Dewey also, means a historic evening for harness racing and a day to be remembered for a long time.

Maritime Madness as Somebeachsomewhere edges Shadow Play in rain-soaked Messenger Pace

Somebeachsomewhere wins Messenger in 1.52.1 in pouring rain

As they headed for home Shadow Play was grinding hard on the lead, with Somebeachsomewhere on his outside shoulder. They stayed that way until the final moments of the stretch drive, when Paul MacDonell and Beach dug in and inched past Shadow Play and David Miller. All in all a thrilling race for Atlantic Canada harness racing fans and standardbred horse racing fans everywhere.

Full article on Messenger Stakes at Harnesslink.com plus video of the race


Enough Talk kept his winning streak alive taking the Oleg Cassini in 157.4.

Happy Dreamer outlasted Artimitateslife to win the $384,000 Lady Maud in 157.3.

Somebeachsomewhere draws Post 6 for $650,00 Messenger Pace final

Here are the six colts in the Messenger Stakes final at Yonkers Raceway this Saturday, October 25th, including post positions, drivers and trainers:

TENTH RACE - THE MESSENGER FINAL

Condition: 3 YEAR OLD OPEN FINAL STARTING FEE $10,000

HN PP Horse Driver Trainer Years Best Last 3

1 1 LEGACY N DIAMONDS TBA Ca Jamieson 1:53.3 9-2-3

1A 4 SANTANNA BLUE CHIP Ro Pierce Ca Jamieson 1:53.2 6-4-2

2 2 BROTHER RAY Ja Bartlett Ke Rucker 1:49.3 1-1-2

3 3 DALI Pa Lachance Du Marfisi 1:50.3 3-3-6

4 5 SHADOW PLAY Da Miller Ia Moore 1:48.2 1-1-1

5 6 SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE Pa Macdonnell B Macgrath 1:46.4 1-1-1


World-record holding trotter Enough Talk, the first trotting racehorse ever to trot below 1.50 with his 149.3 victory in Virginia last week, will be racing in th eighth and has drawn the 5 hole, though he's carrying number 1 as part of an entry with 1A American Lane (P6) in the $100,000 Oleg Cassini Invitational. Artimitateslife drew the rail and leads the pack for the ninth race, the $381,000 Lady Maud final for 3 year old pacing fillies.

Full entries for Yonkers Raceway Saturday October 25th, 2008

No elims for Messenger; Somebeachsomewhere, Shadow Play to meet in final

Those hoping for a rematch between Art Official and Somebeachsomewhere may have to wait for the Breders Crown final, but next Saturday's October 25th Messenger Stakes pacing championship final will feature a small but stellar cast.

Here are the entries for the final jewel of Pacing's Triple Crown, the 2008 Messenger Stakes $650,000 Pace at Yonkers 25OCT08:

Somebeachsomewhere- This son of Mach Three (himself the fastest son of Matts Scooter) holds the world-records for 2 and 3 year old colts and tied the all ages record with his time of 146.4 in the Tattersalls Pace. The "Beach" has Nova Scotia ownership and is the most exciting and talented pacer to come along in years. Niatross won this race, and Beach will be heavily favoured to repeat the feat, and if track and weather conditions permit, fans may get to see him take a run at his 1.49.2 world-record for 3 year old colts pacing on a half-mile track.


Shadow Play - With ownership being a group of PEI'ers with legendary NHL defenceman Serge Savard, Shadow Play (son of top sire The Panderosa) is the 2nd reason Maritime Canada standardbred fans have experienced a thrilling 2008 harness racing season. His connections must feel he's sharp as they paid the $60,000 supplemental entry fee, and the colt is coming off a string of impressive races, including victories in the Little Brown Jug and the Windy City Pace.


Santanna Blue Chip - With just 2 wins in 12 starts, Art Major son Santanna has faced Beach, Shadow, Art Official, Badlands Nitro and all the top 3 year olds, and has 4 places and 3 shows and $588,000+ in winnings. Will make some noise but would need a duel between the top two and a perfect trip to pull this one off.


Dali - With just 1 win in 13 starts, Dali has also repeatedly faced the best colts in the world, and sports 2 places and 4 shows and $344,000 on the year. This son of Real Artist will need to be peaking at just the right time to do better than 3rd.


Legacy N Diamonds - Another fast son of The Panderosa, Legacy is an outsider here but in a small field has a chance to hit the board.


Brother Ray - The Dragon Again gelding is in top form, coming off an upset win Oct 11 in the James Dancer Memorial at Freehold, where he won in 151.3, but he's in tough company here.

Shadow Play edges Badlands Nitro to win Windy City Pace

Next stop for Shadow Play is the Messenger Stakes at Yonkers in New York



Melrose Park, IL --- In one of the most gutsy winning performances in the 26-year history of Maywood Park’s Windy City Pace, Shadow Play overcame a rugged trip and overtook Badlands Nitro in the late going to nail down a head victory in a stakes record time of 1:50.4.

The 4-5 favorite had to race parked outside of Badlands Nitro for the last half-mile and when asked, still had another gear, going on to add the $275,000 Windy City Pace crown to his recent Little Brown Jug championship.

“That wasn’t an easy trip for him and he did overcome it,” said winning driver David Miller. “He’s had a problem with his foot but he’s just amazing right now.”

From the two slot, Badlands Nitro out-sprinted the Illinois champion Mucho Sleazy, who had the coveted one post, and took command coming out of the first turn. After a: 27 first quarter Badlands Nitro's driver Brian Sears was able to slow the pace down.

Miller had to move Shadow Play out of third before the :55.4 half-mile marker and the Jug winner was still to the outside of Badlands Nitro at the 1:23.1 three-quarter pole and through the last turn where he appeared beaten.

However, Shadow Play dug down deep and responded with a furious late move, getting past right before the wire. Mucho Sleazy took third, beaten 1-1/4 lengths.

“When we got to the top of the stretch and I asked him for more he just did the rest,” said Miller, who added that Shadow Play’s next start would be in the Messenger Stakes at Yonkers.

The $132,000 winner’s share of the Windy City Pace boosted Shadow Play’s season's earnings to $723,446 for owners Serge Savard, R G Group LTD and trainer Ian Moore.


Full article on Shadow Play's victory in the Windy City pace at USTrotting.com


It looks like great horses such as Somebeachsomewhere, Art Official, Shadow Play, Santanna Blue Chip, Badlands Nitro, Mucho Sleazy and Dali (maybe even Bullvile Powerful and Keystone Horatio too!) should all hook up in the Messnger (eliminations 18oct, final 25oct) and again in the Breeders Crown, so the 3 year old colts division of North American pacing has lots of exciting races in store.

Somebeachsomewhere may face Shadow Play in $700,000 Tattersalls Pace; Maritime Showdown!

28SEP08 - After posting a world record for 3 year old pacers with his 146.4 victory in the Bluegrass Stakes in Kentucky yesterday, Somebeachsomewhere looks set to face off against Maritime rival (Beach has Nova Scotia ownership, Shadow Play has PEI owners) Shadow Play in next Saturday's $700,000 Tattersalls Pace at The Red Mile in Lexington Kentucky. Beach's connections likely welcome the enrtry, as any horse that can push Somebeachsomewhere to his best effort will aid in this attempt to break Cambest's 15 year old tme trial record of 146.1 in an actual race.

Bookmark this blog in your Add to Favorites section and check back here regularly as we'll be posting entries and post positions as soon as they are announced.

Watch video of Somebeachsomewhere posting world record of 146.4 at The Red Mile

Western Hanover Line 1st and 2nd in Jug; PEI's Shadow Play wins on leather shoe in final

Little Brown Jug 2008: 6 length victory for Shadow Play, by The Panderosa

The 2008 harness racing stakes calendar just gets better for standardbred horse fans from the Canadian Maritimes. Firstly, Somebeachsomewhere, known as "The Beach" Down East, may have Nova Scotia ownership and connections, but Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick also claim the indefatigable and ultra-fluid Beach as loved kin. Beach has been other-worldly in his sophomore campaign, his only 2nd place finish coming with a race-timed 3 year-old world-record 1.47 mile.

So none of us expected Shadow Play to come along and make things so interesting. Not only does this brilliant colt have PEI owners, but legendary hockey player and executive Serge Savard is also among the ownership group, making Shadow a natural bet for Habs fans. In the first heat of the Little Brown Jug 2008, Shadow Play used Badlands Nitro as a windbreaker for over 3/4 of a mile, then edged past him in the stretch to win by 1 1/2 lengths in a sizzling stakes record of 1.50.

Badlands was scratched sick from the final, and each of Art Official (3rd, by Art Major) and Lonestar Legend (2nd, by Western Hanover) came up to challenge Shadow Play, but he turned them away like a champion, pacing home in 26.2 to win by an impressive 6 1/4 lengths in 1.50.1.


Canadian-owned pacing Shadow Play wins 2008 Little Brown Jug

Shadow Play wins 63rd Jug in straight heats; LittleBrownJug.com


Somebeachsomewhere, Shadow Play and Art Official are all scheduled to meet up for the Bluegrass Stakes in Kentucky on September 27, though they may not draw the same division.