by John Zimich, publicity director, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Shadow Play electrified the crowd on Friday afternoon (August 1) in winning one of three Delvin Miller Adios elimination races at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, setting a world record with a time of 1:48.2 for a 3-year-old pacing colt on a five-eighths-mile oval. David Miller was in the bike.

Each of the elimination races carried a purse of $50,000 and the top three finishers in each moved on to the final.

“My horse likes this racetrack and that’s the 3-year-old colt’s third straight win here,” said Miller. “He raced awfully well after I came first up following the opening quarter to grab the lead.”

Major General (Andy Miller) left quickly from the one hole in the third and final split of the Adios elimination races on a sun-filled afternoon at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack with Shadow Play (The Panderosa-Matt’s Filly) fourth on the outside. The opening panel went in :26.2 before Shadow Play took over the lead near the three-eighths pole and was never headed after that, taking the eight-horse field to the half in :53.3 and the three-quarters in 1:20.1. Major General was second with third going to Sand Shooter (Tim Tetrick).

The 1:48.2 broke the track record of Upfront Hannahsboy (1:49), established this past July 1 in a division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes with Tetrick in the sulky. Upfront Hannahsboy failed to make the $350,000 Adios final, set for Saturday afternoon (August 9), when he finished fifth in his elimination.

The other two elimination race winners were Goddess’s Justin, with Tim Tetrick in the sulky, and Atochia, driven by Yannick Gingras. Goddess’s Justin and Atochia both came up the Pocono Pike (passing lane) to win with times of 1:49.4 and 1:50.2, respectively.

It was Goddess’s Justin (Western Hanover-Yankee Goddess) scoring a win by a head over Lonestar Legend (David Miller) with Dali (John Campbell) third.

In the opening split, Dali took this eight-horse field of talented 3-year-old colts and geldings to the opening quarter in :26.3 after leaving from the six hole. Lonestar Legend sat second behind Dali with Goddess’s Justin third. The half was registered in :54.4 and the three-quarters in 1:22.3 before Tetrick took to the Pocono Pike to edge Lonestar Legend.

“I sat behind John’s horse and David’s horse and just wanted to make the final,” said Tetrick. “The passing lane opened and I shot up the lane. My horse was pacing hard coming home.”

Atochia (Dragon Again-Hot Shot Michelle) won by a neck over Mystery Chase, the frontrunner with Brian Sears in the sulky, with third going to Todd J H Hanover and John Campbell.

Atochia was used hard leaving from the five post before grabbing the lead with the opening quarter clicked off in :26.4 before Mystery Chase became the new leader at the half in :55.3. Mystery Chase was still on top at the 1:23.1 three-quarter pole before giving way to Atochia in the stretch.

“I knew I had a chance of winning the race when I heard Brian Sears chirping near the top of the lane,” said Gingras. “I didn’t want to give John (Campbell) the passing lane and he had to go three wide. We took advantage of the lane to just get up.

“If my horse draws well in the final we’ll be okay. He can go with any of these horses.”