Mare wins her third straight title to equal Anndrovette’s three-peat.

story by Dave Little | quotes by Sandra Snyder

Sure, a hat trick is cool. But a natural hat trick? That’s WAY cool.

Lady Shadow completed the feat in the $365,000 Roses Are Red for filly and mare pacers last night at Mohawk on North America Cup Night, winning the stake for a third consecutive year, this time by three-quarters-of-a-length in 1:48.4. In the process, equaled the accomplishment of the great Anndrovette, who won the Roses Are Red in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

The 6-year-old daughter of Shadow Play-Lady Camella experienced some road trouble down the backstretch and had to rough it, but showed her class in a dominant performance that once again has her sitting atop the aged pacing mare division.

Call Me Queen Be sprinted away from the gate and led at the quarter in a sizzling :25.3. Nike Franco N, the 5-2 second choice who won one of three eliminations a week ago, moved to the lead as the half was timed in :54, but some confusion occurred as Lady Shadow was grinding her way toward the lead.

Wrangler Magic, sitting a three-hole trip, became hard to handle as she appeared to pace right up on top of the pocket-sitting Call Me Queen Be. Louis Philippe Roy, Wrangler Magic’s driver, then suddenly pulled his horse to the outside, bothering Lady Shadow and pushing Bernadette (David Miller driving) out into the three path.

“(Wrangler Magic) seemed like she was in trouble,” said Gingras. “So I had to move over a little bit as did David (Miller) behind me. At that point, I just wanted to make sure I came back in the two path, but it was clear sailing after that. I assumed — the way I saw it on the backstretch — that Louis Philippe was going to be disqualified.”

Lady Shadow got a head up on Nike Franco N at the five-eighths and continued to extend her lead around the far turn. At this point, the only one with a shot to beat her was Wrangler Magic, who had worked out a second-over trip. “Yeah, at that point, I thought I had everybody where I wanted them,” said Gingras. “I thought I had the field all stacked up behind me. I thought I could go by Timmy (Tetrick, driving Nike Franco N). I knew I could go by Timmy earlier than that, but I just took it easy on my mare and let her do her thing in the stretch.”

She did just that, pacing a final quarter in :27.1 to win in 1:48.4. Unlike in her prior two Roses Are Red victories, this time she went off as the favorite and paid $3.60 as the 4-5 choice for trainer Ron Adams and owners David Kryway, Carl Atley, Edwin Gold and the BFJ Stable. With the win, she moved past the $2 million mark in career earnings.

Wrangler Magic somehow survived the judges’ inquiry and finished second while Call Me Queen Be held on for third.

“Well maybe, one day,” said Adams when asked if the stake should be renamed for his mare. “She’s been awesome in this race. This is her home track and she likes it here. Yannick has just done a great job driving her and James (MacDonald) has done a great job qualifying her. Her next race is the Golden Girls on Meadowlands Pace Night, but you’ll probably see her in an overnight here once or twice before that. The will to win is unbelievable with her. She just wants it and tries so hard every time.”

“I’ve been lucky,” said Kryway. “I’ve owned quite a few and been very fortunate and this mare is just one of a kind. I don’t know that she’ll ever be replaced or another will be able to do what she can do. It’s just something to watch.”