Mo Dont No keeps win streak alive in Cardinal Handicap

Mo Dont No, Ohio's reigning horse of the year, continued his win streak with a handy victory in the $75,000 Cardinal Handicap, one of two stakes on the first Saturday of Mahoning Valley's meet.

Mo Dont No ($5), who is trained by Jeff Radosevich for owner Ron Paolucci, has now won six consecutive races, including his second edition of the Best of Ohio Endurance Stakes last month. He has finished first or second in 16 consecutive races dating to July 2016.

Mo Dont No quickly assumed the lead after breaking from post 2, but was kindly in hand for jockey Ricardo Feliciano, holding a narrow lead over fellow Ohio-bred champion Rivers Run Deep through a half in 46.61 seconds. The gelding edged clear when asked by his pilot, and the outcome was never in doubt, as he was hand-ridden through the stretch for a two-length win, finishing the six furlongs in 1:10.29.

Altissimo, who had been racing in third, surged past millionaire Rivers Run Deep to be second by 2 1/2 lengths. After Rivers Run Deep, it was a length back to Nick Can Fix, who nipped Hijo de Sheltowee by a nose to round out the superfecta. The latter had upset Rivers Run Deep in the Best of Ohio Sprint last out.

Earlier in the day, Leona's Reward showed off her superiority with a second win over True Cinder in the $75,000 Ohio Debutante for state-accredited fillies and mares.

It was the third stakes victory of the year for Leona's Reward ($3.80), trained and co-owned by Tim Hamm, after earlier winning the George Lewis Memorial Stakes against males and defeating True Cinder in the Catlaunch Stakes in September. Meanwhile, the latter has now lost back-to-back races after winning six straight prior to the Catlaunch.

Leona's Reward and Pablo Morales broke from post 2, just outside of True Cinder and Feliciano, who were sent off as the narrow favorites. With Leona's Reward holding a slim lead, True Cinder turned up the lead on the far turn, but proved no match, as Leona's Reward shook loose and powered clear in the lane to win by 4 1/4 lengths, finishing in 1:46.74.

Shes My Girl rallied to edge True Cinder by a neck for second, with the top three 12 1/2 lengths clear of the field.