The Shady Daisy, formerly the Bronx Filly Pace, is an annual harness racing event for three-year-old standardbred fillies at Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It was first contested in 1957 as a companion race to the Cane Pace.

History Originally run as the Bronx Pace, a stakes race for pacers, it was first held at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York. The track expanded its Twin Futurities into the Quad Futurities in 1957, introducing the Bronx Pace and Hudson Trot to join the Cane Pace and Yonkers Trot. It served as the first leg of the Yonkers Raceway's Quad Futurities. The Bronx Pace joined the program as the companion race for fillies to the Cane Pace.

The race produced notable filly winners, beginning with Newport Judy and driver Del Cameron. The filly owned by Newport Stock Farm of South Plainfield, New Jersey won the inaugural $22,947.50 stake staged during the Yonkers Raceway's Grand Circuit program on July 20, 1957. The Del Cameron-driven Newport Judy finished first in 2:13 over a mile and one-sixteenth, with Dagsworthy Lady, driven by Delvin Miller, finishing second.

"The Bronx" developed into the United States' richest race for three-year-old pacing fillies. In 1966, the Filly Triple Crown series was formed by the Bronx Pace at Yonkers Raceway, the Lady Maud at Roosevelt Raceway, and the Ladyship Stake at Goshen's Historic Track. The Bronx Filly Pace was the third leg of the series.

With increased entries of sophomore fillies in the 1980s, the race was split into divisions.

For the 1998 season, the Bronx Filly Pace and its companion event, the Cane Pace, were awarded to Freehold Raceway. When it moved to the New Jersey track, it was renamed the Shady Daisy after the former champion mare. The stakes event is owned by Freehold, sponsored by American Racing-Gaming, and administered by the Hambletonian Society. Pocono Downs hosted the Shady Daisy Stakes in 2011 as a result of flooding problems at the earlier scheduled Tioga Downs. The race was held for the first time ever at Tioga Downs in September 2012. Beginning in 2015, the Shady Daisy joined Hambletonian Day at Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey, marking the track as its fifth host.

Distances The original Bronx Filly feature was raced over a mile and one-sixteenth route. It was later changed to one mile.

Locations 1957–1997: Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S. 1998–2010: Freehold Raceway, New Jersey, U.S. 2011: Pocono Downs, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S. 2012–2014: Tioga Downs, Nichols, New York, U.S. 2015–present: Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.

Records Most wins by a driver 4 – Billy Haughton (1962, 1964, 1972, 1973)

Shady Daisy winners Year Winner Driver Trainer Owner Time Notes 1957 Newport Judy Del Cameron — — 2:13 — 1958 Kwik Charley Fitzpatrick Jr. — Carl Schultze 2:10 4/5 — 1959 Honick Rainbow Stanley Dancer — — — — 1960 Rapid Transit Hugh Bell — — — — 1961 Sweet Miriam Frank Darish — — 2:11.1 — 1962 Stand By Billy Haughton — Donald MacFarlane 2:10.4 Tied stakes record 1963 Harry's Laura Clint Hodgins — Gertrude & Bert Schaffer 2:02 4/5 Stakes record 1964 Bit O'Sugar Billy Haughton — — Poppa Joe Farms Seventh renewal 1965 Balenzano George Phalen — — — — 1966 Bonjour Hanover Stanley Dancer — — 2:02 1/5 Stakes record 1967 Meadow Elva John Hanover Haughton Trust Haughton Trust 2:01 3/5 — 1968 Quickie Hanover Clint Hodgins — Louis & Mildred Resnick 2:03 3/5 — 1969 Scotch Jewel Glen Garnsey — Castleton Farms 2:07 1/5 — 1970 Timely News Buddy Gilmour Stanley Dancer — 2:03 1/5 — 1971 Overdrawn Del Cameron Warren Cameron Max J. Fischer & Edmund M. Drefuss 2:02.3 — 1972 Pammy Lobell Billy Haughton Billy Haughton Lana & Jack Rosenfeld 2:01 1/5 — 1973 Armbro Norma Billy Haughton — — 2:04.3 — 1974 Joannas Time Ed Lohmeyer Jr. — — 2:01 — 1975 Native Amber William Gilmour — — 2:01.4 — 1976 Bonjour Karey Real Cormier — — 2:01.3 — 1977 Luannes Jewel Merritt Dokey Billy Haughton — — — 1978 Passing Glance George Sholty — — 1:59.4 — 1979 Roses Are Red Jack Kopas — — — — 1980 Shy Dawn Lucien Fontaine — — 2:00 4/5 — 1981 Fan Hanover Glen Garnsey Glen Garnsey J. Glen Brown 1:59 1/5 — 1982 Roses Are Red Jack Kopas — — — — 1983 Sudden Urge Michel Lachance Vinny Aurigemma — 1:58 2/5 Stakes record 1984 My Melissa Jerry Silverman — — 1:58 Stakes record 1985 Semalu D'amour Benoit Cote — Ferme Semaldeux 1:58.2 — 1986 Musical Hanover / Sarcastick John Simpson Jr. / Ray Remmen — — 1:59 — 2012 Blackjack Princess Mark MacDonald — — — — 2013 Scandalous Hanover David Miller — — 1:51 — 2014 Also Encouraging — — — 1:52 — 2015 Stacia Hanover Scott Zeron Steve Elliott David Van Dusen & Michael Cimaglio 1:49.2 Stakes record 2016 Darlinonthebeach David Miller Nancy Johansson White Birch Farm 1:49.1 Stakes record 2017 Blazin Britches David Miller Brian Brown — 1:48.4 — 2018 Youaremycandygirl Yannick Gingras Ron Burke Bill Donovan 1:48.2 Stakes record 2019 Tall Drink Hanover Andy McCarthy Tony Alagna Alagna Racing LLC, Marvin Katz, & Riverview Racing LLC 1:48 — 2020 Reflect With Me Andy McCarthy Tony Alagna Brittany Farms LLC & Brad Grant 1:48.3 — 2021 Grace Hill Andy McCarthy Richard 'Nifty' Norman Tom Hill — — 2022 Max Contract Andy Miller — Steve Heimbecker, Andy Miller Stable Inc, & Jean Goehlen — — 2023 Sylvia Hanover Bob McClure Shawn & Mark Steacy Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. 1:48.3 — 2024 Rocket Deo Andrew Mccarthy Brett Pelling John Fielding & Morrison Racing Stables 1:49 — 2025 Miki and Minnie Chris Ryder Chris Ryder — 1:48 3/5 —

See also Cane Pace

References