Mark My Words has recency advantage in Howard B. Noonan
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Three entrants in the field of 10 for Thursday’s $75,000 Howard B. Noonan Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for Ohio-bred 3-year-olds at Mahoning Valley, ran in the Best of Ohio Juvenile on last October’s state showcase program at this track. The strongest of that trio in this particular spot might be the one who finished worst of the group.
Water Into Wine and Global Event, both trained by Tim Hamm, were second and third, respectively, in the Best of Ohio Juvenile, while Mark My Words was fourth for Robert Gorham. The winner of that race, Crown the Buckeye, has made all his starts since in open stakes company, most recently finishing second by a length to Iron Honor in the Grade 3 Gotham while well clear of the rest of the field. Iron Honor runs back in Saturday’s Wood Memorial.
Water Into Wine cuts back to a preferred sprint distance off the 1 1/16-mile Best of Ohio Juvenile. He was also second to Crown the Buckeye in the Cleveland Kindergarten sprinting. Global Event, too, got his only win in a maiden sprint.
Mark My Words, meanwhile, has won 3 of 6 starts overall – including an allowance win over Water Into Wine last year. He may have an advantage on Thursday based on recency, as he has the benefit of a start this year in which he took a big step forward. His 3-year-old debut came against older statebreds in a March 10 sprint allowance. He romped by 10 3/4 lengths while earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 76 – narrowly second-best in this field. Water Into Wine earned a 78 when second in the Juvenile.
Water Into Wine, who led early in the two-turn Juvenile, has drawn post 2, and Sun of War, making his stakes debut after winning his first two starts, is drawn in post 3. They are likely to set the pace. Mark My Words, who showed improved positioning in his 3-year-old debut, is well-drawn to stalk from post 7.
Also well-drawn is the filly Miss Elecktra, wheeling back two weeks after finishing a fine second, beaten just three-quarters of a length while trying hard to the wire, in the Southern Park against fillies. She had the outside in the field of eight that day and seemed comfortable. In her prior start, she drew the rail and chased inside before fading.
Rico Suave was an allowance winner last year, while Leavetheninetynine, Ripman, and Workstation have only maiden victories.
Unbridled O’Brien has not crossed the line first in six career starts, but he was awarded first-place money after finishing second by a neck in a Feb. 1 maiden race. After that race, first-place Machico Madeira was disqualified due to a medication violation.
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