mahoning | Horse Racing Free Tips

Mahoning Valley Shifts Saturday’s Card To Friday, Feb. 11

Due to the impact of winter storm Landon, Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Valley Race Course in Youngstown, Ohio will be moving the live racing card scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 5 to Friday, Feb. 11 and will race with a first race post time of 12:45pm.

In the interim, live racing is scheduled to resume Monday, Feb. 7 with a first race post time of 12:45pm.

The simulcast theater will remain open for wagering.

Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Valley Race Course races Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with a first race post time of 12:45 p.m. and Saturday with a first race post time of 12:15 p.m.

A unique Thursday live card will be held on March 24, 2022 with a first race post time of 12:45pm.

The 2022 Winter/Spring race meet dates run Jan. 1, 2022 – April 16, 2022.

Source of original post

Jaxon Traveler Takes On Baby Yoda In Monday’s $250,000 Steel Valley Sprint

West Point Thoroughbreds and Marvin Delfiner owned Jaxon Traveler will be making the journey to Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Valley Race Course this Monday, Nov. 22 to contest the $250,000 Steel Valley Sprint. The Steve Asmussen trainee is a three time stakes winner and earlier this year found himself on the board in two graded stakes efforts.

His first graded effort came in the Chick Lang (G3) at Pimlico where he finished second, one and a quarter lengths behind Mighty Mischief. Two starts later, he returned to graded company over the turf course at Saratoga in the Quick Call (G3) finishing third behind eventual Breeders Cup Turf Sprint (G1) victor Golden Pal.

Next out, Jaxon Traveler would cruise to an easy victory in the restricted Star De Naskra before returning to the turf in his most recent effort where he came up three quarters of a length short in the Allied Forces at Belmont.

“We have tried him a few times on the turf and he is certainly a bit more of a dirt horse but still runs well,” comments Toby Sheets, Assistant Trainer to Steve Asmussen. “He has been a very consistent horse for us and has been training good leading into this race.”

Never off the board in ten lifetime starts, the colt will have the services of Gerardo Corrales in the irons for the first time.

Boasting the highest Beyer number of not only this field but tied for the top spot in the United States in 2021 is Bill Mott-trained Baby Yoda who earned a 114 for his effort at Saratoga on Sept. 4.

If his name wasn't enough to catch the public eye, his back to back dominant performances this summer at Saratoga certainly were and led him to his first start in stakes company, the Vosburgh (G2) at Belmont, where he finished third to his older counterparts, grade one placed Following Sea and grade one winner Firenze Fire.

“Baby Yoda is a nice horse, a lot of fun to be around, and we have been slowly working him up the ladder,” states Mott. “He caught a tough field last out in the Vosburgh and after the race, we made the decision to point him towards the Steel Valley Sprint. It's a good purse and we will be in our own age group.” Owned by Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, Pantofel Stable LLC, and Jerold L. Zaro, Baby Yoda will be entering this race looking for the first stakes win of his young career and will be reunited with jockey Jose Ortiz who rode him to both his victories at Saratoga.

Trainer Carlos David is entering the Steel Valley Sprint with stakes winner and grade two placed Real Talk, owned by Bell Racing LLC. Real Talk broke through with his first stake score on August 15 at Monmouth in the Jersey Shore setting the pace and pulling away to win by four and a half lengths.

After that performance it was on to graded company in the Gallant Bob (G2) where he finished third behind multiple grade one winner Jackie's Warrior and grade three winner Pickin' Time. Real Talk will have the return services of Paco Lopez.

Entering fresh off a win last out is Robert Reid, Jr. trained Beren who scored in statebred company at Penn National Race Course. Owned by St. Omer's Farm and Christopher J. Feifarek, Beren also boasts multiple stakes winning efforts against open company at Belmont Park and Parx and has the highest earnings in the field at $436,970. Regular rider Frankie Pennington will be aboard.

Rounding out the field is Kelly Breen trained Newbomb who ran a big race last out in allowance company at Belmont, Mister Luigi, Channel Fury, A Few Too Many, Timeless Bounty, Insofar, Kiltoom, and Ahimelech.

Scheduled to run just before the Steel Valley Sprint is the $75,000 Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Distaff headlined by Todd Beattie trained multiple grade three winner Victim of Love who will find herself facing off against twelve other rivals.

The Steel Valley Sprint is schedule to go to post at 4:07 P.M. EST and will be part of a mandatory payout of the Buckeye Jackpot Pick 6 which starts in race 4 at approx. 2:08 P.M. EST. “We are excited to offer our handicappers added wagering value on the card with this mandatory payout of our Buckeye Jackpot Pick 6,” comments Rob Swedinovich, Vice President and General Manager. The Pick 6 sequence boasts an average field size before scratches of nine horses. Handicappers should also note that the stake is included in the Pick 4 sequence featuring a low 15% takeout which begins in race 6 at approx. 3:04 P.M. EST.

$250,000 STEEL VALLEY SPRINT

November 22, 2021

Race 8 – Post Time 4:07 P.M. EST

3yr, 6 Furlongs

PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer

1. Kiltoom, T.D. Houghton, 117, Crystal Richison

2. Beren, Frankie Pennington, 124, Robert E. Reid, Jr.

3. Jaxon Traveler, Gerardo Corrales, 124, Steven M. Asmussen

4. Baby Yoda, Jose L. Ortiz, 119, William I. Mott

5. Newbomb, Jose Lezcano, 121, Kelly J. Breen

6. Mister Luigi, Edgard J. Zayas, 117, Antonio Sano

7. Real Talk, Paco Lopez, 124, Carlos A. David

8. Channel Fury, Luis Raul Rivera, 117, James R. Jackson

9. A Few Too Many, TBA, 117, Michelle L. Elliott

10. Timeless Bounty, Malcolm Franklin, 117, David Wilson, Jr.

11. Ahimelech, Jeffrey Sanchez, 117, Jeffrey Skerrett

12. Insofar, Gabriel Lagunes, 117, Eduardo Caramori

The post Jaxon Traveler Takes On Baby Yoda In Monday’s $250,000 Steel Valley Sprint appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Best Of Ohio Pick 5 Highlights Saturday’s Card At Mahoning Valley

The Best of Ohio stake series returns to Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Valley Race Course this Saturday, Oct. 30, consisting of five Ohio-bred stakes with purses totaling half a million dollars. While the ten race card kicks off with a first race post time of 12:15pm, the first of the Best of Ohio stakes will begin in race six.

As a specialty offering on the card, Mahoning Valley will include a Best of Ohio all stake Pick 5 covering races six through ten with the standard 15 percent takeout. Field size after early scratches averages ten betting interests per race. Sixth race post time is 2:35pm. Should there be a carryover in the early Pick 5 covering races one through five, it will carryover and be immediately available in the Best of Ohio Pick 5.

Tune into the races before the first as track announcer Matt Hook is joined by Mike Annechino and Tony Fischbach of the Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners breaking down the Best of Ohio stakes and sharing their picks for the day.

Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Valley Race Course races Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with a first race post time of 12:45pm and Saturday with a first race post time of 12:15pm. The fall race meet runs October 22 – December 30, 2021 with three unique cards on Friday, October 22, Friday, November 26, and Thursday, December 30 all with a first race post time of 12:45pm. The 2022 Winter/Spring race meet dates are anticipated to be January 1, 2022 – April 16, 2022 following the same Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday format. These dates are currently pending approval by the Ohio State Racing Commission.

The post Best Of Ohio Pick 5 Highlights Saturday’s Card At Mahoning Valley appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Average Race Handle Up During Record-Setting Season At Mahoning Valley

The 2020-21 racing season at Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Valley Race Course came to a record setting and successful close this past Saturday.

“We are thrilled,” commented Allie Evangelista, Vice President and General Manager. “Despite the hurdles of the past year, we closed on our most successful race meet to date thanks to the continued efforts of our racing team and community.”

The 2020-2021 racing season did not disappoint and concluded with an average handle per race of $121,770, a 4.43% increase in average handle per race over the 2019-2020 racing season. During the 2021 Winter/Spring meet portion of the racing season, average handle per race came in at $131,411, with the wagering highlight coming on March 29.

In a mandatory payout of the Buckeye Jackpot Pick 6, which had grown to $343,876, the single day handle record was shattered by over $1 million. The new record stands strong at $3,095,044. 2021 also saw the introduction of the 15% takeout Pick 5 which has proven immensely popular with handicappers seeing an average pool size of nearly $30,000.

“The response from handicappers has been incredible,” says Assistant Director of Racing Elizabeth Rogers. “The team is already looking ahead to the fall meet and we are excited to explore opportunities that will improve the experience of our existing customers and entice new ones.”

In a tight race between three trainers for the 2021 Winter/Spring Leading Trainer title, it was Jeffery Radosevich who pulled away from the competition winning with four of his final five starts giving him 23 wins in the meet. When asked how many titles he has won at Mahoning he quoted his father, Joe Radosevich, “Do your job and don't count.” He may not be counting but we are, today's win makes number eleven for Radosevich who has proven dominant at Mahoning Valley since it first opening in 2014.

“Dad gave us kids the knowledge, it was our mom, Jackie, who schooled us and kept us in line,” said Radosevich. “I have to give credit to my crew, they are all good workers, and to my clients who support and believe in me.”

The jockey's race was exciting in a different way as Sonny Leon claimed the 2021 Winter/Spring Leading Jockey title with 74 wins, 17 ahead of the runner up.

“I'm excited to win my second title at Mahoning,” Leon said. “The trainers here have been extremely supportive and I am happy to have the opportunity to ride for them.”

Leon began his riding career in Florida in 2015 before bringing his tack to the Midwest where he has found success in recent years. Earlier this year he made trip number 500 to the winners circle and his mounts have surpassed $9 million in earnings.

Mahoning Valley came out strong in the Fall of 2020 by hosting the Best of Ohio stakes on October 31, five restricted Ohio Bred stakes valued at $500,000. Forewarned, for trainer Uriah St. Lewis and owner Trin-Brook Stables, Inc, successfully returned to defend his title in the mile and a quarter Best of Ohio Endurance Stake. Other winners on the day included Ohio bred 2020 champion 2-year-old male Buckeye Magic, Ohio bred 2020 champion 3-year-old male and champion sprinter Chief Randel, Alexandria, and Drillit.

In what has been a similar case for many racetracks, reopening after the pandemic shutdown proved a difficult task. Just over a week after the Best of Ohio Stakes, on November 10, Mahoning was faced with a shutdown that saw the loss of seven live racing days. Despite the setbacks, Mahoning returned on November 23, just in time to host the 6th running of the Steel Valley Sprint. In a field of 12 it would be Vertical Threat who stole the show for trainer Richard Baltas and the partnership of MyRacehorse.com and Slam Dunk Racing.

The final open stake of the season was run on April 10, the first running of the Cheryl S. White Memorial Stake, named in honor of the first African American female jockey to ride and win a Thoroughbred horse race in the United States. In a riding career that spanned more than twenty years, Cheryl won over 750 races. After riding, Cheryl continued to devote her time to the racing industry serving in various roles at the racetrack, most recently as a placing judge at Mahoning Valley. HnR Nothhaft Horse Racing LLC's Prodigy Doll skipped home as the favorite by 8 lengths for trainer Ben Colebrook giving the daughter of Shanghai Bobby her first stakes win.

The horses will return to Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course in the fall with opening day slated for Friday, October 22 and the $250,000 Steel Valley Sprint set for November 22.

The post Average Race Handle Up During Record-Setting Season At Mahoning Valley appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post