from harness publicists across North America

The Friday (June 29) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Saratoga Casino Hotel and The Meadows.

Lady Shadow wins Friday Saratoga feature

Saratoga Springs, NY — On Friday night, Lady Shadow (Shadow Play) did what she couldn’t do the previous two weeks at Saratoga Casino Hotel and that is defeat regular Open winner Spreester.

Melissa SImser-Iovino photo

Lady Shadow was a 1:53.1 winner in the Saratoga feature.

Lady Shadow is very close to the $2 million mark in career earnings as the Melissa Beckwith trainee cruised to an open length romp in Friday’s Fillies and Mares feature.

The veteran 7-year-old moved out to the front in the early going in the $14,500 feature and built an insurmountable lead as she passed three-quarters in 1:24.

Mark Beckwith then pulled the trigger and the lead got bigger with Lady Shadow pacing away to win in 1:53.1 by 4-1/2 lengths. Culinary Delight N (Larry Stalbaum) surged up the inside to be second while the favored Spreester (Frank Coppola Jr.) earned the show spot while a beaten favorite.

Lady Shadow paid $7.90 to win and led an exacta and triple that came back $47.40 and $91, respectively.

The veteran distaffer now has accrued more than $1.99 million in career earnings after recording her first win in the local feature.

Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a 6:45 p.m. first post.

— Mike Sardella

The Meadows
Chapter Too, who had been plying her trade at Eastern tracks, made her debut at The Meadows a successful one with a front-end victory in Friday’s $20,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot. Chapter Too zipped to the lead from post two for Dan Rawlings and showed she meant business when she wouldn’t release early challengers Glidinthruparadise, who broke stride, and Expose Yourself. The 4-year-old daughter of Chapter Seven-Wood Blue Chip had little trouble holding off the late bid of the pocket-sitting You’re Majestic to down her by a length in 1:54.1, matching her career best. Ready Any Time, the 1-1 favorite, finished third. Jenny Melander trains Chapter Too, who lifted her lifetime bankroll to $230,123, for Belmar Racing & Breeding. Mike Wilder collected four wins on the 13-race card. Saturday’s program at The Meadows features two rich total-pool guarantees — $7,500 for the Pick-4 (races four-seven), $5,000 for the Pick-5 (races nine-13). First post is 1:05 p.m.