Moonlight Shadow represented Indiana in a big way Tuesday, April 18. The gelding wired the field in an upper conditioned pace at Yonkers Raceway.
Moonlight Shadow and Jason Bartlett scored their third win of 2023 Tuesday, April 18 at Yonkers.
Moonlight Shadow used his inside post to his advantage and obeyed the signals from driver Jason Bartlett, rolling right out to the lead. He set fractions of :28.1, :58.2 and 1:26.4 before feeling pressure on the outside. As the field came around the final turn, Moonlight Shadow was well in hand on the lead, striding to the wire with a final quarter in :27.4 for the win in 1:54.3. Shadow Cat and Brent Holland finished second over Forever Fav and Austin Siegelman for third.
Moonlight Shadow was the favorite of the field, paying $2.60. The Panter Hanover six-year-old is owned by Eric Prevost and Let It Ride Stables Inc. Regina Miller bred the gelding, who is trained by Per Engblom.
It was the third win of the year for Moonlight Shadow, who has spent his entire career on the East Coast. After getting a start at Harrah’s Philadelphia, he has raced at Pocono Downs, Rosecroft Raceway, and Tioga before finding a home at Yonkers. To date, he has 13 career wins in 89 starts with earnings of more than $219,000. Unraced at two, his career mark of 1:50.4 was taken last year at Tioga Downs.
Moonlight Shadow was part of the first crop of yearlings by Panther Hanover. He did not sell at public auction. He is the last foal from the Storm Damage mare, Hillcrest Sweetie, who is a near 100 percent producer. In addition to Moonlight Shadow, she has produced Red Scooter (1:50.2, $413,000), Son Day (1:52.4, $70,000), MG’s Summer Angel (1:53.4, $114,000), and Virgin Storm, who is still racing and has a mark of 1:51.1 and more than $227,000 in earnings.