Mo Dont No captures Endurance

Special to The Vindicator

AUSTINTOWN

Looch Racing Stables’ Mo Dont No ($3.40) collared the pacesetting Bucket Beat in the upper stretch and then outfought his rival to win by a short head to win the $150,000 Best of Ohio Endurance on Saturday at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

The Endurance is the centerpiece event of the annual five-race series for registered Ohio-bred horses, each with a purse of $150,000.

Well-placed by jockey Luis Colon just outside of co-pacesetters Bucket Beat & Boot Legger through fractions of 25.73, 51.10, &1:16.28, the three-year-old Uncle Mo gelding forged to a narrow lead after the mile in 1:41.87 and battled down the stretch to earn his seventh victory of the season in 10 starts.

Gone Too Soon checked in third, more than three lengths behind the top two, with Silver Tongued and Eightthehardway rounding out the top five.

Bred in Ohio by Beechwood Racing Stable, the $90,000 winner’s share of the purse pushed the seasonal bankroll for the Jeff Radosevich trainee to more than $283,000.

The day started off with a bang as defending champion Rivers Run Deep nosed out the outstanding filly Justalittlesmoke and early leader Candy Bites to win the $150,000 Best of Ohio Sprint.

Overcoming a wide trip and slow early fractions, the 5-year-old Ready’s Image stallion showed why he is one of the best Buckeye bred sprinters of all-time as he notched his 15th win in 30 starts. He covered the six furlongs in 1:11.75. He was bred in Ohio by Nancy Lavrich & Walmac Farm, LLC and has now bankrolled more than $860,000.

Two-year-olds were featured in a pair of events. The Juvenile & the John W. Galbreath for fillies. In the Juvenile, Tough It Up rallied from far back in the 14-horse field to score by 11/2 lengths under jockey John McKee. Mister Peppers also rallied strongly in the final stages to nab the runner-up spot, with Strike Your Light and Jocker Justice checking in third and fourth, respectively.

The Galbreath went to Someday Soon. The long striding daughter of Proud Citizen appears to have a very bright future after she powered past the pacesetting Mizz Quoted at the quarter-pole and pulled away. Finally, in the Best of Ohio Distaff, Ohio Gold outfinished Star Mabee to earn her first Black-Type victory.