A field of talented 3-year-olds are expected to ship to Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course for the Youngstown, Ohio track's Nov. 25 feature race, the $300,000 Steel Valley Sprint Stakes.
Grade 1 winner Book'em Danno was awarded 5-2 favoritism from his far outside post of 11, but trainer Derek Ryan told BloodHorse Nov. 20 the Atlantic Six Racing gelding was unlikely to make the trip, in favor of a start in the Dec. 7 Cigar Mile Handicap (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
His expected defection would be welcome news for the other 10 runners, as favoritism would then pass to Siena Farm and WinStar Farm's World Record.
The Gun Runner colt made a name for himself this summer while flashing quick early foot out of the gate for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. After a signature win in the July 26 Amsterdam Stakes (G2) by 6 3/4 lengths in his first start with blinkers, a contested pace in the seven-furlong H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) one month later proved his undoing as he faded to sixth.
He rebounded well in allowance optional claiming company at Keeneland Oct. 10, earning his first victory from off the pace. Brisset said the emphasis on going to the lead resulted from overthinking a third-place finish in the June 30 Maxfield Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs when the colt did not break sharply and could not reel in pacesetting Raging Torrent.
Video: Race 9 (AOC) at KEE on 10/10/24
"It was good to see him rate and make a run at it passing horses," Brisset said. "It was a different style of run, and I did like what I saw."
Brisset had contemplated keeping World Record against allowance company in a seven-furlong non-winners of four, but said he is still unsure whether the colt likes seven furlongs. His debut victory came at the distance, but when allowed to dictate his own pace without pressure. Meanwhile, the Steel Valley Sprint offered six furlongs, a higher purse, straight 3-year-old competition, and timing-wise would set up well for the $300,000 Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park Dec. 26, which is contested at seven furlongs.
Trainer John Ennis is also hoping success Monday at Mahoning Valley could translate into a Malibu trip with Welch Racing's Epic Ride.
The Steel Valley Sprint will be the Blame colt's second start off a five-month layoff that followed his 14th-place finish in the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1). With a refocus on one-turn races for the long term, he returned in the seven-furlong Perryville Stakes (G3) at Keeneland Oct. 19 and dead-heated for third after stalking the pace.
"He was as fit as I could get him without a race," Ennis said of the performance. "I knew he'd probably get tired at some point but he ran a very good race. He just got tired in the last part, just inside the furlong pole. I think he's improved (since then). He looks a bigger, stronger horse now."
As Epic Ride makes his second start off the layoff, Glengarry returns from his seven-month absence.
"We had to put a screw in an ankle this spring and kind of babied him around there all summer," said his trainer Doug Anderson, who co-owns the colt with Aaron Kennedy and Toby Joseph. "It's exciting to get him going again, see if he's the same kind of horse he looked like he was going to be this summer. It seems like he's handling everything pretty good right now and we just got to see if he's fit enough."
Undefeated in four one-turn starts, the talented Iowa-bred son of Maximus Mischief was last seen winning a second Keeneland stakes race in his career, the April 5 Lafayette Stakes.
"He's faced some nice horses already and showed he can handle it, but these other guys have been running," Anderson said. "We're coming off of a layoff and it's going to be interesting to see where he fits right now. It's a good starting point for him so we're going to take a shot."
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen won the race last year with William and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Ryvit. They return this year with Valentine Candy, last seen winning a 5 1/2-furlong allowance at Churchill Downs Nov. 3. A victory would push the five-time stakes-winning son of Justify 's career earnings over $1 million for the Heiligbrodts and co-owners Jackpot Farm, Whispering Oaks Farm, and Coteau Grove Farms.
Also in the field are multiple stakes winner Henro and grade 2-placed stakes winner Sunny Breeze.
Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, Monday, November 25, 2024, Race 10Entries: Steel Valley Sprint S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Maximus Meridius (PA) Frankie Pennington 117 Robert E. Reid, Jr. 15/1 2 2Save the Trees (KY) Jaime A. Torres 119 Michael J. Maker 20/1 3 3Henro (KY) Rafael Bejarano 124 Chris A. Hartman 12/1 4 4Glengarry (IA) Luis Saez 124 Doug L. Anderson 6/1 5 5Sunny Breeze (FL) Jaime Rodriguez 124 Edward T. Allard 10/1 6 6Practically Dark (FL) Drayden Van Dyke 117 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 20/1 7 7World Record (KY) Flavien Prat 124 Rodolphe Brisset 7/2 8 8Epic Ride (KY) Edgar Morales 124 John Ennis 4/1 9 9Valentine Candy (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 124 Steven M. Asmussen 8/1 10 10Code Omaha (KY) Arcelio Flaco 117 Lilia Gonzalez 30/1 11 11Book'em Danno (NJ) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 124 Derek S. Ryan 5/2
