Nine-year-old Carsons Shadow learned some new tricks and continues to win

by Matthew Lomon

When Carsons Shadow arrived at trainer Gerard Demers’ barn in mid-July, the seasoned pacer was mired in a 1-for-15 slump going back to that same time last year.

Though certainly not for a lack of effort, the scrappy war horse simply struggled to find his groove beyond a nine-length tally at Hanover Raceway on Sept. 7, and a runner-up finish at Grand River Raceway nine days later.

The lean stretch persisted into the fall and the early summer months of this year with Carsons Shadow failing to finish higher than fifth in seven starts following the brief September turnaround.

Still, something about the 9-year-old bay hinted he wasn’t done just yet.

“I think he just needed a change of scenery,” said Demers, who recorded career-highs across the board last season en route to his first million-dollar season.

“He was at the same spot for a long time — sometimes horses that have been in the same place for a while need a change — and I think he’s fit really well in the program we have.”

The Freelton, ON-based conditioner wasn’t all that familiar with Carsons Shadow when owner Francois Morin called seeking his thoughts on the newly available horse.

But Demers knew that Morin was bullish on the son of Shadow Play—Carsons Ladyluck, and that was reason enough to cut the check.

“He’s been good for us since day one,” said Demers. “He’s a little hot, but he’s a solid horse with a lifetime mark of [1]:50, so we knew we had some speed coming in. We did our best to make sure he was sound and happy, and right now, he’s giving us back what we gave him.”

Carsons Shadow wasted no time rewarding his new connections, delivering a front-leading 2¼-length triumph in his July 20 debut at Georgian Downs.

What may have come as a surprise to some, did not to Demers.

“After I trained him the first time I told Francois, ‘I think he’ll be a winner the next start,’” Demers said.

While validated by Carsons Shadow’s smooth score as the second choice in the field of six, Demers felt his new protégé was capable of even more.

“He raced with a blind bridle and he was pretty crazy, so he didn’t finish his mile that well,” the trainer said. “After that, we changed it, and now he’s much better in the races. He’s settled in nicely.”

The adjustments paid immediate dividends, as the plucky pacer reached the winner’s circle his next time out on July 27, also at Georgian.

A third at the Innisfil, ON oval one week later was then followed by a fourth in Carsons Shadow’s first appearance at Woodbine Mohawk Park since Dec. 31, 2022.

Yet, the crafty veteran had no trouble turning the page.

In fact, Demers added, “he came back stronger.”

Carsons Shadow got back in the win column on Aug. 24, circling the Georgian dirt in 1:55.4 to complete the comeback victory by three-quarters-of-a-length with driver Samuel Fillion in tow.

The gelding, bred by W. David Carson of Listowel, ON, has been on a tear ever since.

Carsons Shadow picked up another win at Georgian on Aug. 31 before rattling off three straight at Flamboro Downs to extend his current win streak to five – easily the longest such sequence of his 132-start career.

His most recent outing, a three-length tally, on Sept. 23, felt like déjà vu for Demers.

“He had the 7-hole, and I told Francois that I knew he’d be a winner again because he races from everywhere, and right now he’s on a roll,” Demers said. “When a horse is on a roll like that, they feel like they can’t be beaten.”

While the 30-time winner still runs hot on the track, he does everything right off the track to ensure he’s at his best when the starter car speeds away.

“At the barn, he’s a sweetheart,” Demers said. “You just do what you want with him. He’s a good eater, he likes to go outside, and he feels really good in the program I have. I think he’s really happy right now – he sure was at the race last week.”

Demers had never worked with a horse quite like Carsons Shadow — “one-of-a-kind,” in his words — prior to their union this past summer.

Their time together has proven, without a shadow of a doubt, that both old horses, and their wise trainers, can still learn new tricks.

“I always like challenges,” Demers said. “Challenge is my big thing, so when I get a horse that’s not really on a roll and I can help them, I do my best to help. It’s obviously harder if a horse is coming in with a mark of 2:10, but with him coming in at [1]:50, we know he’s been there. We just have to try to put him back where he was.

“He’s not the same as he was in his younger days, but we can still get him right for the class he’s racing. He’s a simple horse — he’s a small horse — but he’s got a big heart, and he tries hard every week. Right now, he’s on a roll.”