O'Brien Award winners Lady Shadow and Solar Sister swept the top-two spots in the 1-1/8 miles TVG Series event for older pacing mares.
The Canadian-trained distaffers were the talk of the toteboard at odds of 4-5 and 2-1, respectively, following their top-two placings in the Golden Girls on July 16 at The Meadowlands, and didn't disappoint their backers in a repeat 1-2 finish.
Driver Yannick Gingras had Ron Adams trainee Lady Shadow out three-wide from the trailing tier post 12 as they moved around Bettor N Bettor (John Campbell) and aimed for the top spot. Out-sprinted off the gate by Inittowinafortune (Scott Zeron) in a sizzling :25.2 opening quarter, Venus Delight (Jason Bartlett) looped that rival for a brief appearance on the lead before Lady Shadow cleared past the :53 half-mile mark.
Lady Shadow continued to lead the oversized field through three-quarters in 1:20.4 and began to open up around the final turn. However, the Gregg McNair-trained Solar Sister (Brian Sears) pursued first over into second-place and she began to reel in Lady Shadow down the stretch as they passed the mile mark in 1:48.3. Lady Shadow ultimately held on to prevail by half a length in 2:03 for the added distance. Katies Said (Brett Miller) emerged from a wall of horses closing for third-place honours.
Lady Shadow is owned by David Kryway of Amherstburg, Ont., Carl Atley of Xenia, Ohio, Edwin Gold of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania and the BFJ Stable of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The millionaire daughter of Shadow Play and Lady Camella has now won half of her 12 starts during her five-year-old campaign.
Lady Shadow's victory capped off an incredible Hambletonian Day for the BFJ Stable's Howard Taylor.
"This is what it's all about. It's just unbelievable. I'm embarrassed by the wealth of riches," said Taylor after celebrating stakes victories with Lady Shadow, Shamballa and Control The Moment.
"Both the [Meadowlands] Pace night and this, they just raced out of their minds. I guess, it's just my year...I don't know what I'm doing different!"