Watch for Ghost Is Clear late in Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Sprint

The $50,000 Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Sprint on Saturday is the first stakes at the new Mahoning Valley Race Course and the first open stakes for older horses in many years in Ohio.

Also on Saturday’s eight-race card is the $50,000 First Lady for 3-year-old Ohio-bred fillies and the Glacial Princess for 2-year-old Ohio-accredited fillies, which drew just two entrants and will be run as an exhibition before the first race.

Both the First Lady and the Mahoning Sprint are at six furlongs.

Ghost Is Clear has a come-from-behind style that should play well in the Mahoning Sprint, which has a 10-horse field laden with speed.

Sky Crew, who comes off a romping win, takes on a three-horse entry trained by Tim Hamm in the seven-horse First Lady field. Hamm sends out Natural Bling, Dream Bling and Needmore Flattery, who has earned more than $350,000 while winning 10 of 17 races.

Mahoning Sprint (race 7)

Key contenders

Ghost Is Clear (Last 3 Beyers: 74-91-91)

◗ He has won the Hansen starter handicap at Turfway Park and the Dark Star at Canterbury this year.

◗ He is trained by Mike Maker and will be ridden by Albin Jimenez. That trainer-jockey combo has won at a 34 percent clip the past two seasons.

◗ He worked a bullet five furlongs Sunday at the Churchill Downs training center.

Star Harbour (Last 3 Beyers: 81-98-100)

◗ He is the speed of the speed and has the rail.

◗ He tired in the Bet On Sunshine at Churchill Downs on Nov. 1 after running an opening quarter in 21.60 seconds.

◗ The 6-year-old has the highest lifetime Beyer Speed Figure in the field, a 108 earned in August 2013 at Saratoga.

W. B. Smudge (Last 3 Beyers: 101-91-78)

◗ He has the highest last-race Beyer in the field, which came in an optional claimer at Indiana Grand going six furlongs. He was claimed for $25,000 out of that 6 1/4-length win.

◗ Prior to that, he won a $25,000 claiming race at Indiana Grand by 5 3/4 lengths.

◗ His four-furlong work last Saturday at Turfway Park was the best of 42 at the distance.

J J Garbar (Last 3 Beyers: 94-85-94)

◗ He came from just off the pace to win his last two races, and that running style should fit well in this race.

Jasizzle (Last 3 Beyers: 87-78-76)

◗ He comes off a win at Presque Isle Downs on Sept. 25 in an open allowance race.

◗ He has had four bullet works since, capped by a 33.40-second, three-furlong work Nov. 15 at the Thoroughbred Training Center.

First Lady Stakes (race 4)

Key contenders

Sky Crew (Last 3 Beyers: 62-74-61)

◗ She comes into this race off an eight-length win against statebred fillies and mares Nov. 8 at ThistleDown.

◗ This will be her first attempt against straight 3-year-old Ohio-bred fillies.

◗ She won a maiden race at Saratoga, earning an 84 Beyer, the highest lifetime figure in this field.

◗ She is trained by Tony Rini and will be ridden by Scott Spieth, a combo that has won at 55 percent the past two years.

Circle Can Run (Last 3 Beyers: 39-52-59)

◗ She comes off a 2 1/2-length win in the Ohio Debutante at ThistleDown, a race in which no Beyer Figures were assigned because of a timer malfunction.