Dover, DE — Backstreet Shadow impressed in the slop on Thursday night (Feb. 6) at Dover Downs, posting a 1:49.3 victory in the $32,500 Preferred Pace.

Backstreet Shadow was a measured 1:49.3 winner in Thursday’s top pace at Dover Downs. Fotowon photo.

Tim Tetrick launched Backstreet Shadow to the lead from post eight, and the pair cleared Bo Mach to a quick :26.2 first quarter. Tetrick was able to throttle the 5-year-old Shadow Play gelding down through a :55.1 half before forced to pick up the pace by the first-up Slick Tony on the backstretch.

Backstreet Shadow led the field to three-quarters in 1:22.2 and turned aside a weakening Slick Tony on the far turn. Meanwhile, Bo Mach raged with pace from the pocket in the closing stages of the race to challenge in the stretch. Backstreet Shadow remained under wraps and won by a measured neck after pacing his last half in :54.3 and his final quarter in :27.1. Bo Mach finished second, and Closing Statement circled wide from fourth-over to take third, 4-3/4 lengths back.

Ron Burke trains Backstreet Shadow for the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Larry Karr and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby.

Proper One captured the sub-featured $30,000 Blue Hen Pace, angling off the pocket to eclipse pacesetter Grantmeawish for a 1:50.4 win over Q’s Cruise and Late Mail N. Andy McCarthy drove Proper One for owner Louis Tomczak and trainer Carlo Poliseno.

Racing returns to Dover Downs on Monday (Feb.10); post time is 4:30 p.m.