Canadiens legend Serge Savard finds success as owner of Shadow Play

CAMBELLVILLE, Ont. - Ten Stanley Cups have a way of making a man accustomed to the spotlight.

But hockey Hall of Famer and former Montreal Canadiens defenceman Serge Savard is nonetheless enjoying being in the public eye once again - this time for his part in the ownership of two pacing colts.

Savard, 62, owns Shadow Play, the four-year-old who captured harness racing's most prestigious race for pacers, the 2008 Little Brown Jug, in world record time and is entered in Saturday's $685,000 Canadian Pacing Derby (10:48 p.m. ET).

Meanwhile, two-year-old Malicious is currently unbeaten in seven lifetime starts and is the 7-2 second choice in the $1 million Metro Pace, on the same Saturday night card.

"Shadow Play was the first horse I bought with (trainer Ian Moore), two years ago," said Savard, who paid a mere $4,000 for his share in the $1.5 million earning stallion.

"I was very involved 30 years ago and now I'm back in it and really like it."

He's equally enthused about Malicious.

"He looks outstanding in training this week, but he's in tough company, the toughest of his career so far. I have watched Sportswriter (the Metro's 8-5 morning-line choice) a couple of times and he looks very, very good."

Savard's return to harness racing has been an immediate success. After owning four horses in the mid-70s whose earnings each topped $300,000, Savard gave up the sport in 1983 when he became the general manager of the Canadiens.

After managing the team to two Stanley Cups, he returned to harness racing and quickly found success with Shadow Play, who won the U.S. Pacing Championship this year.