Awesome Banner disqualified, Mo Dont No named Steel Valley winner

Mo Dont No was awarded the win in the $200,000 Steel Valley Sprint after his jockey, Luis Colon, lodged an objection against first-place finisher Awesome Banner for interference in upper stretch at Mahoning Valley Race Course on Monday.

Will Munnings set the early pace in the Steel Valley Sprint while being prompted by Awesome Banner to his inside. Mo Dont No attended the pace three wide.

Awesome Banner was in front by about a length in upper stretch when jockey Tyler Gaffalione hit him left-handed. Awesome Banner drifted outward into the path of Mo Dont No, who momentarily was herded outward and cocked his head to the outside as Colon tightened up on his right rein. Awesome Banner was not seriously challenged to the wire and won by two lengths.

In a close call, and after an inquiry of about five minutes, the stewards disqualified 3-1 Awesome Banner to second.

Mo Dont No, owned by Loooch Racing and trained by Jeffrey Radosevich, paid $13.80 to win. Awesome Banner completed the six furlongs in 1:11.50 over a sealed, muddy track.

Bandwidth, the even-money favorite, finished third, 2 3/4 lengths behind Mo Dont No after racing just behind the leaders early. Front Pocket Money, forwardly placed while four wide on the far turn, weakened and finished fourth, 6 1/2 lengths farther back.

Nicaradalic Rocks was fractious in the starting gate and missed the break. He finished seventh.

Mo Dont No, an Ohio-bred son of Uncle Mo, is now 8 for 11 this year; the Steel Valley Sprint was his fourth stakes win of the season. He had previously won three Ohio-bred stakes, including the Best of Ohio Endurance at Mahoning Valley.
Mahoning Distaff: Regia Marina finishes strong
Regia Marina started slow but finished fast to win the $75,000 Mahoning Distaff in the race prior to the Steel Valley Sprint.

Regia Marina is owned by Godolphin Racing, trained by Eoin Harty, and was ridden by Albin Jimenez. A 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, Regia Marina was last away from the gate in the six-furlong Distaff. She commenced her rally wide on the far turn, came six wide into the stretch, then was up to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

Regia Marina paid $5.20 to win and was timed over the sealed muddy track in 1:12.87.

She's a Bootsy Too, who tracked a four-horse speed duel early, came between horses in the stretch to be second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Luckyallmylife, who raced on the early pace along the inside. Five-year-old Needmore Flattery, a multiple Ohio Horse of the Year, rallied extremely wide into the stretch and finished fourth, beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Regia Marina.

Harty is now 3 for 3 in his career at Mahoning Valley. He previously had sent out Desert Tune - also owned by Godolphin - to win an allowance race Nov. 9 and Mythical Vixen to win a maiden race Oct. 28.

Jimenez also has a very good record at Mahoning Valley. He is now 5 for 11 at the track in his career and 3 for 6 this year, with all of his 2016 wins coming in stakes, including the $75,000 Cardinal Handicap last Saturday on Rivers Run Deep.

Regia Marina in her previous two starts had finished sixth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Masters, and third in the Grade 3 Seaway at Woodbine. The Mahoning Distaff is her first career stakes win.