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
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