Trainer Cowans sweeps Mahoning Valley stakes

Trainer William Cowans swept the stakes Saturday at Mahoning Valley Race Course as Flame Mingo and Buster's Boy won their respective stakes debuts in the $75,000 Austintown Filly Sprint and the $75,000 Howard B. Noonan Stakes at the Ohio track.

Flame Mingo rolled by five lengths in the Austintown Filly Sprint, an open event for 3-year-old fillies. Bumped at the start, the filly and Orlando Mojica quickly recovered and were up to press pacesetter Red Dread, only a head behind through the half in 46.57 seconds. Flame Mingo ($9.60) quickly pulled away upon taking command, continuing strongly to the wire to finish the six furlongs on a fast track in 1:13.91.

After the winner, Frigid Sister rallied from last to be second by a length over Wendy Peffercorn.

Flame Mingo, a daughter of Blame trained by Cowans for Michael Foster, now sports a career record of 3-2-1-0. After finishing second in her debut in February, the filly won her next outing by 2 1/2 lengths, catapulting her directly into stakes company.

One race later, the unbeaten Buster's Boy survived a pace duel and drew off to win the Howard Noonan for Ohio-bred 3-year-olds by 4 1/4 lengths.

Buster's Boy ($8.80) and Walter De La Cruz narrowly led Fusaichi's Wind through honest opening fractions of 23.36 seconds for the quarter and 47.36 seconds for the half. They shook that challenge off around the turn and drew off to the wire, despite running greenly in the lane.

The gelded son of Twinspired finished his six furlongs in 1:13.39.

Charlee's Magic was a clear second, four lengths ahead of Indian Fever. The filly Tango Run, favored off a stakes win in her season debut, was never a factor at eighth in the field of 12.

Buster's Boy, who is owned in partnership by breeder Pine Ridge Farm and Jim Rumford, has now won his three career starts, all at Mahoning Valley, by a combined 14 3/4 lengths.