by Mike Paradise, publicity director, Maywood Park

Melrose Park, IL — The years just keep rolling along. It’s the 26th consecutive edition of the Windy City Pace, inaugurated on a rainy evening back in 1983 at Maywood Park. Through the years there have been some classic match-ups of 3-year-old champions and there’s another on tap this Friday night, October 10.

Harness racing’s newest millionaire, Badlands Nitro, a multiple stakes winner with $1,287,184 already earned in his second season of racing, will battle it out again with Little Brown Jug champion Shadow Play, a $30,000 supplement, in the $275,000 Windy City Pace.

Badlands Nitro (Brian Sears) will open up as the slight 2-1 favorite with the two post over Shadow Play (David Miller), who has post five and is the 5-2 second choice. Illinois champion Mucho Sleazy (4-1), a state-bred loaded with speed, has the advantageous one post, where he’ll surely make his presence felt.

The ninth race headliner also lured Genuwine (6-1, Andy Miller), Dax Hanover (15-1, Brandon Simpson), Vette Man (12-1, Brandon Simpson), Corner Blitz (8-1, Tim Tetrick) and Lets Getit Started (15-1, Sam Widger).

Shadow Play was a first up winner against Badlands Nitro the last time they met in a Little Brown Jug heat on September 18. Shadow Play went on to a dominating 6-1/4 length victory in the $264,589 Final on the Delaware (Ohio) half-miler after trainer George Teague, Jr. scratched Badlands Nitro out of the championship. The $538,270 Art Rooney (Yonkers) and $500,000 Battle of Brandywine (Harrah’s Chester) winner was scoped after his heat loss and an infection was found.

Trainer Teague has given his prized colt plenty of R&R and a combination of antibiotics during the three-plus weeks off and he says his pacer is fit and ready for his Chicago circuit debut.

The Grand Circuit has moved to Maywood Park for Friday’s Windy City Pace card that also includes a pair of $65,000 Galt stakes for 3-year-old trotters, the $88,000 Cinderella for sophomore filly pacers, and second season state bred showdowns for 3-year-old pacers in the $61,750 Violet for fillies and the $61,300 Cardinal for colts and geldings.