diff --git a/src/KArtSell.Host/Features/ShadowRun/Handler.cs b/src/KArtSell.Host/Features/ShadowRun/Handler.cs
index 02ff692d..905964d3 100644
--- a/src/KArtSell.Host/Features/ShadowRun/Handler.cs
+++ b/src/KArtSell.Host/Features/ShadowRun/Handler.cs
@@ -7,11 +7,13 @@ using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
 namespace KArtSell.Host.Features.ShadowRun;
 
 /// <summary>
-/// Handles shadow run initiation: validates, creates job, enqueues to Hangfire.
-/// Transaction boundary: Single DB write (shadow_run record) + Hangfire enqueue.
-/// </thinking>
+/// Handles shadow run initiation: pre-insert shadow_run with "Queued" status, enqueue Hangfire job.
+/// Transaction boundary: DB pre-insert ("Queued") + Hangfire enqueue (idempotent).
+/// Polling endpoint works immediately after response (202 Accepted).
+/// </summary>
 public sealed class InitiateShadowRunHandler(
     IBackgroundJobClient backgroundJobClient,
+    ShadowRunQueries queries,
     IClock clock,
     ILogger<InitiateShadowRunHandler> logger)
 {
@@ -50,6 +52,16 @@ public sealed class InitiateShadowRunHandler(
 
         LogInitiated(logger, runId, request.ModelId, request.WindowStart, request.WindowEnd, null);
 
+        // Pre-insert shadow_run with "Queued" status (enables immediate polling)
+        var createdAt = clock.UtcNow;
+        await queries.InsertShadowRunQueuedAsync(
+            runId,
+            request.ModelId,
+            request.WindowStart,
+            request.WindowEnd,
+            createdAt,
+            CancellationToken.None);
+
         // Enqueue Hangfire job (durable; survives app restart)
         var jobId = backgroundJobClient.Enqueue<ShadowRunJob>(
             job => job.ExecuteAsync(command, CancellationToken.None));
@@ -62,7 +74,7 @@ public sealed class InitiateShadowRunHandler(
             Status: "Queued",
             JobId: jobId,
             EstimatedSeconds: 3600,  // 1 hour estimate
-            CreatedAt: clock.UtcNow);
+            CreatedAt: createdAt);
     }
 
     private static MarketPhaseFilter ParsePhaseFilter(string phase) =>
diff --git a/src/KArtSell.Modules.ModelOperations/ShadowRun/Sql.cs b/src/KArtSell.Modules.ModelOperations/ShadowRun/Sql.cs
index fa92f0f1..fa07c3d3 100644
--- a/src/KArtSell.Modules.ModelOperations/ShadowRun/Sql.cs
+++ b/src/KArtSell.Modules.ModelOperations/ShadowRun/Sql.cs
@@ -50,6 +50,40 @@ public sealed class ShadowRunQueries(IDbConnectionFactory connectionFactory)
                 cancellationToken: cancellationToken));
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Pre-insert shadow run with "Queued" status (no metrics yet).
+    /// Called by InitiateShadowRunHandler to enable immediate polling.
+    /// </summary>
+    public async Task InsertShadowRunQueuedAsync(
+        Guid runId,
+        Guid modelId,
+        DateOnly windowStart,
+        DateOnly windowEnd,
+        DateTimeOffset createdAt,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        const string sql = """
+            insert into model_operations.shadow_run
+            (run_id, model_id, window_start, window_end, status, created_at)
+            values (@RunId, @ModelId, @WindowStart, @WindowEnd, @Status, @CreatedAt)
+            """;
+
+        await using var connection = await connectionFactory.OpenAsync(cancellationToken);
+        await connection.ExecuteAsync(
+            new CommandDefinition(
+                sql,
+                new
+                {
+                    RunId = runId,
+                    ModelId = modelId,
+                    WindowStart = windowStart,
+                    WindowEnd = windowEnd,
+                    Status = "Queued",
+                    CreatedAt = createdAt
+                },
+                cancellationToken: cancellationToken));
+    }
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Retrieve latest shadow run for model (PIT: published_at &lt;= cutoff).
     /// </summary>