It took a while—six starts, to be exact—but Damon's Mound is finally back on his 'A' game just in time for the $300,000 Steel Valley Sprint Stakes at Mahoning Valley Race Course Nov. 20.
Trained by Michelle Lovell, Damon's Mound dazzled in his first pair of outings last year as a 2-year-old. After romping by 12 1/2 lengths in his debut, he took on Saratoga Race Course and conquered the Saratoga Special (G2) by 3 1/4 lengths. The Girvin colt then found the mile of the Iroquois (G3) too far for his liking, was benched for seven months, and then struggled to regain his former glory. Then came the Robert Hilton Memorial at Charles Town and the Gallant Bob (G2) at Parx Racing, where he resumed his winning ways, besting a fair share of his Steel Valley rivals in the process.
Although critics may say his wins came over wet tracks, Damon's Mound's Gallant Bob Equibase Speed Figure of 104 was eight points higher than any number he'd ever recorded, signaling improvement.
Junior Alvarado, aboard for the colt's last two starts, retains the mount for the six-furlong Steel Valley.
Speedsters Uncashed and Super Chow will be looking to spar with Damon's Mound for early command and Gallant Bob runner-up Nautical Star, second choice on the morning line at 7-2, should also be part of the mix into the opening pace.
Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, Monday, November 20, 2023, Race 10Entries: Steel Valley Sprint S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Frosted Departure (KY) Angel I. Diaz 117 Kenneth G. McPeek 8/1 2 2Damon's Mound (FL) Junior Alvarado 124 Michelle Lovell 5/2 3 3Meadow Value (FL) McKenna Anderson 117 Michelle L. Elliott 30/1 4 4Ryvit (KY) Keith J. Asmussen 124 Steven M. Asmussen 8/1 5 5Agnello's Dream (KY) David J. Haldar 117 Jeffrey Skerrett 30/1 6 6Recruiter (FL) Tyler Conner 117 Cathal A. Lynch 10/1 7 7Nautical Star (OK) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 117 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 7/2 8 8Super Chow (KY) Emisael Jaramillo 124 Jorge Delgado 6/1 9 9Halmstad (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 117 Lance Rutledge 12/1 10 10Uncashed (FL) Jareth Loveberry 124 Larry Rivelli 4/1
