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.

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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First race post is scheduled for 12:15pm with the third slated to go off at 1:10pm.

On Feb. 22, Mahoning Valley introduced a new 15 percent takeout Pick 5 wager. After six days of live racing, the new wager has seen an average payout of just over $1,500 on a 50-cent minimum ticket.

Hollywood Gaming at 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 current race meet ends on Saturday, April 17.

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“Seemingly without public notice, Mahoning Valley has flipped the terms of the jackpot pick six from where it was in March to where it is through its current meet,” Cummings said after the meeting, “and we wanted to ensure the Commission was made aware through the proper channels as it seems the Ohio Racing Rules require, and to investigate the measures the track took to make the public aware of the change.”

When racing closed for the season at the eastern Ohio track, the jackpot pick six wager had a 20 percent takeout with 30 percent of the daily pool withheld if there was no single ticket winner – yielding an effective daily hold of 44 percent. A total of 70 percent of the net pool was paid to the multiple winners on a given day should no single ticket winner exist.

A carryover of $2,620 was held from the end of the meet in March and offered, per Ohio rules, at the start of the next meet, which opened on Oct. 23. Written approval is required to change elements of the bet.

“The difference is that while the actual takeout remained the same, at 20 percent, the track has changed the daily withholding for the carryover to 70 percent, which is what they had been paying out back in March. Combining this takeout and withholding rate yields an effective daily hold of an astounding 76 percent, which we believe to be the highest such rate in North America for this bet type in Thoroughbred racing.”

“This is not a category where Ohio wants to be at the top of the pack,” Cummings told the Commission.

TIF has been critical of racing operators for allowing jackpot bets to proliferate across racing in the last decade.

“Jackpot bets are the opposite of what racing needs,” Cummings added after the meeting.

“These bets limit customer churn, which limits the opportunity for horsemen to earn purses from racing wagering. It defies all conventional logic to offer jackpot bets and limit the opportunity to grow wagering on racing, a metric in our business which has declined by nearly 50 percent when adjusted for inflation over the last 20 years,” added Cummings.

“Some tracks have paid greater attention to this in recent times, either eliminating jackpot bets or offering them on far more favorable terms.”

On a very positive note, several tracks have recently removed jackpot provisions from some wager types, while others carry more favorable terms on returning a large chunk of daily wagering which limits the daily hold.

Fair Grounds removed the jackpot provision from its pick five pools when its 2020-21 season launched in November, while Century Mile in Alberta abandoned the jackpot provision in its super high five midway through its 2020 meet. ​​​​​​​Today's card at Fair Grounds features a $27,704 carryover on its late pick five, paid to any number of winning tickets with all five winners.

Churchill Downs, whose “Single 6” bet pays 90 percent of the daily pool with just a 15 percent takeout, yielding an effective daily hold of just 23.5%, is among the most player – and horsemen – friendly jackpot wagers given the substantial daily payout provision.

Scott Borgemenke, Chairman of the OSRC, indicated his appreciation that the topic was raised and that, at least to his knowledge, the remarks from the TIF included new information to him. Chairman Borgemenke requested a copy of the remarks for review so that the issue could be examined further.

The entirety of the Cummings remarks to the OSRC are printed below:

Thank you, Chairman, for the opportunity to offer a public comment on behalf of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation once again.

I wanted to raise your attention to a situation at Mahoning Valley as it relates to that track's jackpot pick six wager.

When the Mahoning Valley season concluded in March, it was operating a jackpot pick six bet type with a 20% takeout. When no single ticket winner existed for a particular day, 30% of the net pool (after takeout) goes to the carryover jackpot with 70% of the net pool paid to all winning tickets with the highest number of winners that day.

This sort of division yielded a daily, “effective takeout” of 44%, meaning that if there was no single ticket winner, 44% of the daily amount bet was withheld, combining the takeout and the carryover.

Obviously, a 44% effective takeout is quite high, but in the nationwide landscape of jackpot bets, falls in about the mid-range of pricing for such a bet.

When racing resumed at Mahoning Valley in October, and without seemingly any public notice to the change, the terms of the jackpot withholding were altered. While takeout remained at 20%, if there was no single ticket winner, Mahoning Valley transferred 70% of the net pool to the jackpot and paid 30% of the net pool to the multiple ticketholders with the most winners that day.

So, the numbers were flipped – in March, 70% of the daily pool was paid and 30% withheld. In October, and every race day since with a carryover, 70% of the net pool is withheld and 30% paid.

This is troubling for a few reasons, but most notably, the impact to the bet's daily effective takeout has changed substantially with this adjustment, going from being in middle of the pack at 44% in March, to where it is now, with a daily effective takeout of an astounding 76%.

The Mahoning Valley Jackpot Pick Six now has, to our knowledge, the highest daily effective takeout on ANY bet offered to Thoroughbred horse racing customers in North America.

This is not a category where Ohio wants to be at the top of the pack.

For some comparison, in recent months, the daily, effective takeout from others with similar bets types include Churchill at 23.5%, Charles Town at 34%, Aqueduct at 40%, Laurel at 52%, Indiana at 60.75% and the California Fairs at 70%.

Turning horse racing wagering into lottery-type bets is bad for horse racing. Sustainable wagering from horse racing emanates from supporting high churn bets, not lottery-type bets such as this. Racing benefits from continued customer wagering – but on days when the bet is not hit by a single ticket (which has been 25 of 27 race days to date this meet), 76% of the daily pool is withheld.

So besides offering this comment, we wished to submit two items for your consideration upon further examination – has Mahoning Valley received written permission by the Commission to make this change, and why was it not better communicated to the public?

There was a carryover when racing stopped in March – a total of $2,620 – that money was available in a revised Jackpot Pick 6 bet with these new withholding terms when racing there resumed in October.

By changing the terms of the jackpot withholding – from 30% in March to 70% in October and every day since, there has been a substantive change in the wager, which based on a reading of the Ohio Racing Rules, specifically, Chapter 3769-3-40-J-2, should have required written approval.

It's entirely possible this was received.

Less understandable, however, is the lack of transparency regarding the change.

So, while we are unarguably against the proliferation of these bets, especially ones which carry an outrageous daily effective takeout, almost no communication about the change from Mahoning Valley is a poor experience for customers.

We would greatly appreciate the Commission's attention to this matter.

The post Thoroughbred Idea Foundation Raises Jackpot Bet Concerns To Ohio Commission appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Juvenile, a 1 1/16-mile contest for Ohio-registered 2-year-olds, is the first Best of Ohio event on the afternoon program, carded as Race Six and features seven youngsters, each carrying 120 pounds. Post time for The Juvenile is 2:34 pm, ET.

Uptown, who has finished second in two previous OTRF stakes this year and who comes into this event fresh off two victories, looks to be the one to beat. Trained by Silviano Gonzalez for owner Charlie Williams, this son of Upstart-Mongoose Gold, by Mongoose has $69,450 in his coffers. The dark bay or brown colt was a $30,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and was bred by Ohio's Donnybrook Farm and Wynn Blaton.

Next up is the John W. Galbreath, another 1 1/16-mile event, this one for Ohio-registered fillies, all carrying 117 pounds. Post time for the Galbreath is 3:02 pm, ET, and features seven neophyte distaffs.

Alexandria, who captured the $100,000 Best of Ohio Miss Ohio and $75,000 Tah Dah stakes, rates the slight nod in here over rival Happy as You Go, the $75,000 Emerald Necklace and $75,000 Loyalty Stakes winner.

Hailing from the Tim Hamm barn for Winstar Farm and Blazing Meadows Farm, Alexandria was a smart third in the Grade 3 Pocahantas Stakes at Churchill on Sept. 3. The homebred daughter of Constitution-Springwater, by Spring at Last has a bankroll of $137,160 with three wins in four starts.

Happy as You Go, by Mobil, out of the Dixieland Band mare Preservation Hall, is a Robert Gorham trainee with $106,706 in earnings and is three for four lifetime. Bred by Mapleton Thoroughbreds, Happy as You Go was a $5,000 purchase at the 2019 Ohio Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Fall Mixed Sale.

The six-furlong Best of Ohio Sprint follows, with 11 well-matched Ohio-registered 3-year-olds and up vying for first prize. Post time is scheduled for 3:30 pm, ET.

Altissimo, who captured the Best of Ohio Sprint in both 2019 and 2018, is the obvious choice. This multiple stakes-winner of $827,034 has 18 wins, eight seconds and 5 thirds in 44 career outings for owners Nancy Lavrich and Ronald Zielinski. Altissimo is a bay 7-year-old homebred altered son of Noble Causeway-Great Goin Rose, by Albert The Great and is conditioned by Richard Zielinski. Altissimo will have to contend with the likes of former Ohio Horse of the Year and multiple stakes winner and million-dollar earner Mo Dont No, and the always tough contenders Buckeye Bullet and Diamond Dust, among others.

The Best of Ohio Distaff has a post time of 3:58 pm, ET and features nine Ohio-registered fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, traveling 1 1/8 miles over the Cleveland dirt.

Moonlit Mission appears sharp and poised to pick up her second win of the season and sixth career triumph in the Distaff for trainer Silvano Gonzalez and owner Charlie Williams. Bred by the Belvedere Farm, this 3-year-old striking chestnut daughter of Shackleford-Moonlit River, by Maria's Mon has been stakes placed this season and won the $75,000 Tomboy Stakes after capturing the $150,000 Galbreath one year ago. A winner of $249,550, Moonlit Mission was a $18,000 purchase at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. This field also features stakes winners Totally Obsessed, Drillit, Cali Dream and Star Mabee, among others.

The final race of the afternoon, with a 4:26 pm, ET, is the Best of Ohio Endurance, featuring 10 Ohio-registered runners, 3-year-olds and up, vying at 1¼ miles.

Forewarned, a 5-year-old son of Flat Out-Fortune Play, by Five Star Day, captured the 2019 edition of the Best of Ohio Endurance and has been plying his wares in stakes throughout the East Coast this season. Trained by Uriah St. Lewis for the Trin-Brook Stables, Forewarned has amassed $452,113 lifetime with seven wins, four seconds and four thirds in 29 starts. He was a $40,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December 2018 Mixed Sale.

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