Mountaineer: Shadowbdancing holds off late charge to win Mountaineer Mile

Shadowbdancing used his speed to open up a big lead in the stretch, and then held off a belated rally from Rummy’s Command to prevail in Saturday night’s $125,000 Mountaineer Mile at Mountaineer Racetrack.

The 6-year-old Shadowbdancing ($6.80), second in last year’s Mile, was pressured by stretch-out sprinter Bernie Blue through a half-mile in 48.13 seconds, but shook clear under jockey Israel Ocampo to take a two-length lead after six furlongs in 1:13.05. Shadowbdancing looked home free when his lead grew to six lengths with a furlong remaining, but Rummy’s Command, who was nine lengths back at the eighth pole, came flying late to get within three-quarters of a length before Shadowbdancing was saved by the wire.

In winning for the 13th time in 34 starts for trainer Terrel Gore and owner RNB Racing, Shadowbdancing completed the distance in 1:40.56.

Rummy’s Command, a 17-1 outsider, got second by a half-length over Harmonizer, who was stepping up sharply in class off a win over $10,000 starter allowance foes at Hoosier Park. Defending champion Cryptolight finished fifth at 3-1.