Pocono: Backstreet Shadow tallies fourth straight victory

Overcoming a sloppy track, a first-over move, and very tough opposition, the Shadow Play 4-year-old gelding Backstreet Shadow showed speed and gameness in taking a $30,000 Great Northeast Open Series (GNOS) event for fast-class pacing horses in 1:49 2/5.

On paper, three horses seemed to have the best credentials – None Bettor was sent off as the 8-5 favorite, with Backstreet Shadow 9-5 and Highalator 2-1 – and they were the three major players in the race. None Bettor made the early lead, yielded to Highalator before the 26 4/5 quarter, then retook in front of the stands and got a bit of a rest to a 55 3/5 half.

Backstreet Shadow, who had tucked fourth from the outside post seven early, launched his first-over bid off the second turn for driver Pat Berry, and the sharp pacer went his own third quarter raw in 26 flat to get within a length of None Bettor by the 1:22 1/5 three-quarters. Around the turn and through the stretch those two continued to fight, joined in the lane by a resurgent Highalator in the Pocono Pike. Backstreet Shadow showed his grittiness by defeating None Bettor (absent for four weeks) by a head, with Highalator just another neck back in third.

Backstreet Shadow has now won four races in-a-row and ten on the year, boosting his seasonal earnings to $200,700 and lifetime bankroll to $369,646. Ron Burke trains the talented sidewheeler for Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Lawrence Karr, and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby.

--press release (PHHA/Pocono)--