With spring racing back at Keeneland after a COVID-19 cancellation in 2020, Shadow Matter kicked off the meet in fine style on a picture perfect afternoon Saturday.

Shadow Matter came through with a determined victory as the favorite in a $79,000 maiden race. The speedy 3-year-old colt had finished second at Fair Grounds last month in his only previous race.

Dallas Stewart trains Shadow Matter and we can only hope this is the beginning of a wonderful case of deja vu with this bay colt sired by Macho Uno. That is because our previous history with Dallas Stewart and Macho Uno was one for the WPT highlight reel: Macho Again, runner-up in the 2008 Preakness Stakes and winner of the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap in 2009 on the way to earning more than $1.8-million.

Replay with winner’s circle footage: