Faster Gator swept to the lead turning for home and repelled all comers in the stretch to win the $300,000 Steel Valley Sprint for 3-year-olds on Monday at Mahoning Valley.
Faster Gator ($6.80), a Vekoma colt, is trained by Anthony Farrior for Richard Burnsforth and Dunn Brothers Racing. Monday's tilt at Mahoning Valley, which Faster Gator had shown an affinity for with an allowance win last month, was his first career stakes score after knocking at the door, finishing second in the Bay Ridge in April at Aqueduct and third in the Robert Hilton Memorial in August at Charles Town.
"This horse means a lot to us," Farrior said. "I'm a claiming guy, so to have a horse that can win a stake race is big. He's a big, heavy horse, so I think it took us a lot to get him fit, and he's had some foot problems. I think the six furlongs is right for him. Hopefully, he stays sound and we can have some fun with him."
Faster Gator, who broke from the outside post in the field of nine under Jevian Toledo, tracked the pace in third early, then rocketed to the lead nearing the quarter pole as the field completed the half-mile in 45.35. Stakes winner Tough Catch, who had a tough break and then recovered to chase the pace, made up ground to loom a threat on the inside as Faster Gator appeared to wander out. Meanwhile, Souper Tuscan – under Irad Ortiz Jr., who had won three stakes on the undercard – was the danger on the outside. But Faster Gator held sway to the wire, finishing the six furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.46.
Tough Catch was second by 2 1/2 lengths over Souper Tuscan, who held off Rolando by a nose in a photo for the show spot.
The richest of three six-figure sprint stakes, the Steel Valley Sprint was the highlight on a marquee card for Mahoning. In its sister race, the $200,000 Cheryl S. White Memorial for 3-year-old fillies, favored Stilettos ($3) bid between horses and opened up by four lengths under Ortiz Jr. for her second career stakes victory. The Texas-bred won the Debutante Stakes in the summer of 2024 at Ellis Park for trainer Bret Calhoun.
Stillettos ran her six furlongs in 1:10.68, just a tick slower than the colts. Velvet Devil was second by three lengths over longshot Taliesin.
Calhoun and Ortiz Jr. swept the female sprint stakes with Texas-bred fillies, as Too Much Kiki ($4.40) outgamed favored Benedetta, the 2024 Cheryl White winner, for a 1 1/2-length win in the $100,000 Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Distaff over six furlongs.
It was an open stakes win for Texas-bred Too Much Kiki, who has won 5 of 6 starts this year, the majority of those against statebreds. She did finish second in the open Memorial Day Sprint in May at Lone Star to Mystic Lake, a multiple Grade 2-winning millionaire.
The Mahoning Distaff field scratched from 10 entrants down to four starters.
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The undercard also showcased some of the best of the Buckeye State, with four stakes for Ohio-bred or Ohio-accredited runners. Superwolf ($3.80) asserted his class as one of the best in the state with a victory in the $75,000 Cardinal Stakes for Ohio-bred older sprinters, following his victory in the Best of Ohio Sprint last month at Mahoning Valley. He led throughout and drew clear by 1 3/4 lengths over Empire's Fire, the 2024 Best of Ohio Sprint and Cardinal winner.
This was the fourth career stakes victory for Superwolf, who had Erik Barbaran in the irons for Robert Gorham. He is a two-time winner on the fall Best of Ohio showcase, as he also won the 2024 Juvenile.
Tim Hamm trained, co-bred, and co-owned a pair of undercard winners. Villian ($3.80), under Jose Ortiz, pulled clear to a four-length win over stablemate Casual Attire in the $75,000 Ruff/Kirchberg Memorial for Ohio-accredited runners 3 and up going a mile and 70 yards. It was the third straight stakes win for Villian, who came in having won the Buckeye Native and the Catlaunch.
Earlier, Toastmaster ($5.80) made a sustained rally and cleared away late to win the $75,000 First Lady Stakes for Ohio-bred 3-year-old filly sprinters by 3 3/4 lengths. The filly had Ortiz Jr. in the irons for Hamm.
Heavy favorite Dunn's River ($2.80) rolled by 8 1/4 lengths in the $75,000 Glacial Princess for Ohio-accredited 2-year-old fillies. The filly, who was stakes-placed against colts earlier this year, loomed large for trainer Ricardo Bailey and jockey Terry Houghton as the field scratched down to four, with the withdrawals including the only prior stakes winner in the field, Dynamic Vision.
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