The Best of Ohio Program at Mahoning valley Race course was conducted Saturday, October 31st.
On a sunny, cool fall day with the track sealed and listed as muddy following
more than 2 inches of rain the previous two days in the Youngstown area, just
shy of $1.2 million dollars was wagered on the 10 race Best of Ohio program
which were all restricted to Ohio-breds.
Owner-breeder Maccabee Farm captured the first Best Of Ohio race of the
afternoon in the Juvenile Stakes with Buckeye Magic rallying to score a 1 3/4
length victory under jockey John McKee for trainer Tom Drury Jr. Morestride
gamely held the place in just his second career start for owner-trainer Mike
Rone. The victory was the second in three career starts for Buckeye Magic, a son
of Trappe Shot, who covered the one mile and one sixteenth distance in 1:47.70.
Prohibitive favorite Alexandria scored an easy 6 3/4 length victory in the John
Galbreath Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Alexandria ($2.20) captured her fourth
career victory from five starts for owner WinStar LLC, Blazing Meadows LLC and
Michael Lewis. Gerardo Corrales rode the winner for trainer Tim Hamm. Alexandria
covered the one and one sixteenth mile distance in 1:47.83 while sending her
career earnings to $197,160.
Chief Randel ($41.00) rallied to score a one length upset victory in the Best of
Ohio Sprint holding off former Ohio Horse of the Year Mo Don’t No who finished
strongly to gain second. Fernando Salazar Becerra rode Chief Randel for owner
Harry Waite and trainer Jose Romero. Chief Randel, a 3-year-old colt by Fiber
Sonde, covered the six furlongs in 1:11.77 in scoring his sixth career victory
from 17 starts.
Drillit ($19.40) rallied from last on the backstretch under jockey Christian
Pilares to score a 2 1/4 length victory over favorite Moonlit Mission in the
Best of Ohio Distaff. Robert Gorham trains Drillit, a 4-year-old daughter of
Drill, for owner Mast Thoroughbreds LLC. The victory was the seventh in 24
career starts for Drillit and sent her career earnings over the $400,000 mark.
Drillit covered the 1 1/18 miles in 1:55.86.
Favorite Forewarned ($4.00) scored a repeat victory in the Best of Ohio
Endurance outfinishing Wicked Warrior by a half length after a stretch long duel
in the 1 1/4 mile event. Sonny Leon rode Forewarned for trainer Uriah St. Lewis
and owner Trin-Brook Stables Inc. Forewarned, a 5-year-old full son of Flat Out,
scored his eighth career win in 30 starts sending his career earnings over the
half million dollar mark. Forewarned covered the 1 1/4 miles in 2:06.78.