Aptly-named Winning Shadow strikes again

Northfield, OH — The nation’s co-winningest horse by wins over the last two harness racing seasons, Winning Shadow (Credit Winner), put it all together on Monday (Nov. 6), getting back to the winners’ circle against the top company in the $20,000 Open Trot at MGM Northfield Park.

The road had been a little bumpy for Winning Shadow over the last couple of months; while he was hitting the board, he was struggling to find the winners’ circle. On Monday, he looked like his old self, turning a perfect trip into a victory.

Designer Specs (Kurt Sugg) and Winning Shadow (Chris Lems) left alertly from mid-pack into the first turn. While Designer Specs would clear mid-way around the clubhouse turn, Lems stepped on the gas with Winning Shadow, putting him on the point into the backstretch, with Tequila Talkin (Ronnie Wrenn Jr) parked outside.

Tequila Talkin worked past Winning Shadow before a tempid opening quarter of :28.2. At the half in a leisurely :58.2, the outer flow began to develop with Don’t Take My Keys (Ryan Stahl), Joygo (Justin Walters), and Winning Ticket (Aaron Merriman) moving up on the outside. The flow didn’t advance, however, as the field remained in the same order at three-quarters in 1:28.

Into the far turn, Don’t Take My Key and Winning Ticket both found a little more in the tank as they began a three-wide assault on Tequila Talkin, with Winning Shadow looming at the pylons after a perfect trip. Through the stretch, it appeared the Tequila Talkin would fend off all pursuers, but Winning Shadow dug in down the stretch to win by a nose in 1:57.1.

WINNING SHADOW REPLAY

Owned by Racing To Win Stable and trained by Jordan Hope, the 8-year-old pushed his career earnings to $913,156 as he continues his march to $1,000,000.

In the co-featured $20,000 Open Pace, Market Based (Sweet Lou, Wrenn Jr) took the same route to victory as Winning Shadow, turning a pocket ride into a win on Monday.

One Last Laugh (Hunter Myers) was quickest into stride, but Market Based and Makin Some Noise (Kurt Sugg) were put into play early. Entering the backstretch, Market Based, stretched out by One Last Laugh, finally cleared the lead, but Makin Some Noise dueled with him as the pair passed the opening quarter in :27.

Makin Some Noise, having paid the price to be there, finally cleared Market Based into the far turn for the first time. With one lap to go, Makin Some Noise, who had not felt much pressure following that daunting opening quarter, got to the half in :56.2.

Makin Some Noise continued to put up all the numbers at three-quarters in 1:25, with a host of challengers beginning to make their bid. Market Based was all over Kurt Sugg’s helmet into the far turn with Surreal Ideal (Lems), who overcame a break at the start in between horses, and The Ideal Dancer A (Luke Ebersole) beginning to rally three-wide.

Turning for home, Makin Some Noise had put away everyone, but the mile proved to be too much for him as Market Based tipped to the outside and overpowered Makin Some Noise to win by a head in 1:53.2, One Last Laugh rallied up the passing lane to be second.

MARKET BASED REPLAY

Owned by H And M Taylor Stable, Edwin Gold, and Chuck Pompey, the homebred pushed his earnings to $376,165 for trainer Ron Burke.

Live racing resumes on Tuesday (November 7) evening at 6:00 p.m. MGM Northfield Park currently races on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. For more information on live racing and promotions, visit www.northfieldpark.com.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Michael Carter, for MGM Northfield Park