Mahoning Valley Monday: Rare Early Week Stakes Racing

The Monday card from Mahoning Valley Race Course features the First Lady, Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Distaff, and Steel Valley Sprint Stakes.

The track located in Ohio on the same circuit as Belterra Park and Thistledown is often an afterthought in the racing world, but the trio of stakes means they will be front and center on Monday.

The all-dirt racing does play a bit unlike most dirt surfaces. The track tends to be extremely heavy which can tire front runners. This means midpack closers often have a much better chance than they do on other dirt surfaces.

Mahoning Valley Race Course- Race 1

Post: 12:45 PM ET; $24.3k Maiden Special Weight going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 7

• #3 QIA (7-2) gets the top selection. She makes sense on speed figures. This one comes into the race in really good form.
• #1 JUMP INTO SANITY (9-2) appears to be a major player in this race. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Skerrett and Aviles.
• #6 ALWAYS MISCHIEVOUS (2-1) should be competitive in this spot. She looks to be the class of the field. This one should be part of the early pace in this spot.
• #4 UNESCORTED (5-2) comes into the race in really good form. This one is well bred for this spot.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 6 – 4

Mahoning Valley Race Course- Race 2

Post: 1:12 PM ET; $14.3k Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #4 NOT A GAME (2-1) is the top pick. He has the top overall power rating in the group. This one makes sense on speed figures.
• #7 HEY SACH (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #6 CRY MACHO (6-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Londono and Barbaran. This one comes into the race in really good form.
• #2 CALL PAPA (3-1) will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run.

Selections: 4 – 7 – 6 – 2

Mahoning Valley Race Course- Race 3

Post: 1:39 PM ET; $31.8k Maiden Special Weight going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 7

• #1 I'M JAC'D (6-5) looks best here. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance.
• #3 GIMME CLEARANCE (7-2) goes out for the Silva barn and gets Bracho in the irons.
• #5 AMERICA'S JAZZ (15-1) is a price horse and comes into the race in really good form.
• #7 SHANGHAI ROYALTY (3-1) looks to be the class of the field. This one goes out for the Pappada barn and gets Aviles in the irons.

Selections: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7

Mahoning Valley Race Course- Race 4

Post: 2:06 PM ET; $25.9k Allowance going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 7

• #7 FORTUNE BOUND (5-2) gets the top selection. She has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #6 SCARRAZANO (7-2) makes sense on speed figures. This one could get the right setup in this race.
• #5 CANDY ISLAND (6-1) shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance. This one goes out for the Galloway barn and gets Batista in the irons.
• #4 CONTESSINA (6-1) makes sense on speed figures. This one will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run.

Selections: 7 – 6 – 5 – 4

Mahoning Valley Race Course- Race 5

Post: 2:33 PM ET; $75k First Lady S. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 5

• #1 R THREE ANGELS (7-5) is the top pick. She goes out for the Dacosta barn and gets Diaz in the irons.
• #4 LIONISTIC (2-1) has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #5 THE DEVIL'S DREAM (7-2) has to be respected going out for the combination of Evans and Franklin. This one looks to be the class of the field.
• #3 MISSION GIRL (6-1) goes out for the Gorham barn and gets Barbaran in the irons. This one projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.

Selections: 1 – 4 – 5 – 3

Mahoning Valley Race Course- Race 6

Post: 3:03 PM ET; $75k Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Distaff S. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #3 PULPIT'S PURRFECT (8-1) looks best here. She has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip. This one is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.
• #1 TIVIS (7-2) appears to be a major player in this race. She goes out for the Gorham barn and gets Ortiz in the irons.
• #4 CURRENT CLIMATE (10-1) is a price horse and appears to be a major player in this race. She shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance.
• #7 DANCIN AT MIDNIGHT (5-2) has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 4 – 7

Mahoning Valley Race Course- Race 7

Post: 3:33 PM ET; $100k Youngstown Oaks going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 9

• #4 MY KENTUCKY GIRL (7-2) gets the top selection. She will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #3 GIRL WITH A DREAM (3-1) has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #1 YOUR SO SILLEA (8-1) makes sense on speed figures. This one has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #7 GUNFYRE GAL (4-1) could be in with a shot in this race. She seems to fit well enough here.

Selections: 4 – 3 – 1 – 7

Mahoning Valley Race Course- Race 8

Post: 4:03 PM ET; $250k Steel Valley Sprint S. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 11

• #1 KNOCKER DOWN (4-1) is the top pick. He could get the right setup in this race. This one has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #5 TEJANO TWIST (9-2) should be competitive in this spot. He makes sense on speed figures. This one may benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #11 SCARAMOUCHE (3-1) could get the right setup in this race. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #7 HOIST THE GOLD (7-2) looks to be the class of the field.

Selections: 1 – 5 – 11- 7

Mahoning Valley Race Course- Race 9

Post: 4:33 PM ET; $75k Cardinal H. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #2 DOUGIE D ORO (5-2) looks best here. He shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance.
• #4 MORESTRIDE (2-1) has races good enough to beat this group.
• #6 ALTISSIMO (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #1 MO DONT NO (8-1) could get the right setup in this race.

Selections: 2 – 4 – 6 – 1

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