Shadow Cast sneaks up rail

Shadow Cast won her third stakes race in a row at Fair Grounds on Saturday, flying up the rail through the stretch under Robby Albarado to take the Grade 3, $125,000 going away by two lengths. Favored Sister Swank was caught at the wire for place by Bijou.

Albarado was unhurried early on Shadow Cast, allowing the filly to settle far behind the early leader, Ide Be a Lady, who cut a measured pace under Brian Hernandez Jr., running the quarter-mile in 24.04 seconds and the half in 49.47. Sister Swank and May Gator tracked her as a team in second and third on the backstretch.

Albarado asked Shadow Cast for run on the far turn, while up front, Sister Swank went after the leader, who began to tire after running six furlongs in 1:13.89. Turning for home, Albarado had no room to swing out for the drive, so he steered Shadow Cast to the inside. She found a seam and burst through to the lead, covering the 1 1/8 miles in 1:53.75.

"Today she wanted to destroy the field," said Albarado. "She wanted to win big."

Shadow Cast has now won the Truly Bound Handicap on the dirt and the Pago Hop and Bayou Breeders' Cup on the turf at this meeting.

"That may be her best race yet," said trainer Neil Howard. "She had to make up a lot of ground, and she did it with authority. You couldn't ask for more."

Donnie Meche pushed out on Sister Swank on the outside, but Bijou caught her in the final strides under Eddie Martin Jr. to finish a neck ahead in second. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Cape Town Lass in fourth.

Shadow Cast paid $6.80 to win.