Trigger Warning edges Bobby's Wicked One in Steel Valley

Trigger Warning and Bobby's Wicked One were locked together throughout the lane in the $250,000 Steel Valley Sprint, with the well-seasoned Trigger Warning prevailing in a photo finish to land a signature victory in Mahoning Valley's signature race.

Trigger Warning ($10.60), who broke from post 5 in the field of 11 3-year-olds under Irwin Rosendo, and Bobby's Wicked One, immediately to the outside of the eventual winner under Tyler Gaffalione, emerged as the leaders in the scramble out of the gate, with Trigger Warning leading by a half-length through a sharp opening quarter of 22.90 second on the sloppy, sealed track. Bobby's Wicked One edged up on the outside of the leader around the turn, and was nearly even to the leader through the half in 45.78.

The two dueled the length of the stretch, brushing briefly through the final furlong as Rosendo switched to a left-handed stick on Trigger Warning. In the end, it was Trigger Warning prevailing by a nose at the wire. Gaffalione lodged an objection to the stretch run, but it was disallowed.

The final time was 1:10.56.

Another four lengths back, Still Having Fun, winner of the Grade 2 Woody Stephens Stakes in June, came on to be third, edging post-time favorite Wyatt's Town by a neck. They were followed, in order, by Cowboy Creed, Mr Ashley, Machismo, Welles Crowther, Smokin Nitro, Navy Commander, and K Choice.

Trigger Warning, a 3-year-old Candy Ride colt owned by Brinley Enterprises, won the Tom Ridge Stakes in May at Presque Isle Downs and has been competing against graded company since for trainer Mike Rone. The colt was third, beaten just over a length, in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby, and second by a head to Axelrod in the Grade 3 Indiana Derby.

After running sixth in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes, Trigger Warning finished third to McKinzie and Axelrod in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby, and most recently was seventh in the Breeders' Cup Dirt.

Mahoning Distaff Stakes

Earlier on the card, Puntsville made her return to the races a winning one in the $75,000 Mahoning Distaff Stakes, an open-company event for female sprinters.

Puntsville and jockey Carlos Marquez Jr. pressed the pace in second around the turn, took over into the lane, and kicked on to hold sway by a length over favored Lake Ponchatrain, who made a belated seven-wide rally to get up for the placing by a nose over Peyton's Pass. The final time for the six furlongs was 1:12.07.

Puntsville ($7.60), an Illinois-bred Cashel Castle mare racing as a homebred for S.D. Brilie Partnership, has now won three of four starts this season. The Michele Boyce trainee began her season by winning the Isaac Murphy Handicap at Arlington Park and the Hoist Her Flag Stakes at Canterbury. However, she then finished sixth in the Satin and Lace Stakes on Aug. 20 at Presque Isle Downs in her most recent outing before the trip to Mahoning Valley. With the successful return, she owns seven stakes victories overall.