BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Michelle and Cliff Love’s homebred Damon’s Mound heads a quarternity of Florida-breds entered to run in the $300,000 Steel Valley Sprint, a six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and older on the main track at Mahoning Valley Race Course Monday afternoon.
Set as the 5-2 morning line favorite in the field of 10, Damon’s Mound will be joined in the starting gate by fellow Sunshine State products Uncashed (4-1), Recruiter (10-1) and Meadow Value (30-1).
Trainer Michelle Lovell will saddle Damon’s Mound, who will be trying to prevail in his third straight stakes test having won the Grade 2 Gallant Bob by a length-and-a-quarter over a sloppy six-and-a-half furlongs at Parx Racing in his last start on Sept. 23. The 3-year-old colt also won the $350,000 Robert Hilton Memorial over a wet fast seven furlongs at Charles Town on Aug. 25.
By Girvin out of San Antonio Stroll, by Stroll, Damon’s Mound has won four of nine career starts, including the Grade 2 Saratoga Special last year, with one second while banking $601,700.
Jockey Junior Alvarado, who has been aboard Damon’s Mound for the last two victories, will travel to Youngstown, Ohio from his current base at Aqueduct in New York for the return mount in Steel Valley.
Damon’s Mound has drawn post two.
Uncashed returns to the dirt after finishing eighth in the $150,000 Mahony won by Closethegame Sugar going five-and-a-half furlongs in his turf debut at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 13.
Trained by Larry Rivelli for Patricias Hope LLC, Uncashed had won five of six starts on dirt before the Mahony, including a five-and-a-half length romp in the $175,000 Quick Call, which was originally scheduled on the turf but run at five-and-a-half furlongs on a sloppy track at Saratoga on July 16. He also dominated the $50,000 Golden Circle, winning by eight-and-a-half lengths going six furlongs on a fast main track at Prairie Meadows on May 20 in his stakes debut.
Bred in Florida by Nicksar Farms, Uncashed is a 3-year-old gelded son of Uncaptured out of Charlie B, by War Chant and has five career wins in seven starts with one second and earnings of $183,575.
Jareth Loveberry rides Uncashed for the first time since last October when second in a first level, $62,500 optional claiming at Hawthorne and they have post 10.
Recruiter looks for his first victory Saturday since running away to win an off-the-turf allowance race by more than 10 lengths going a mile at Penn National in May.
A winner of the $100,000 James F. Lewis going six furlongs at Laurel in December and the $75,000 Parx Juvenile on Jan. 3 at seven furlongs, Recruiter exits two third-place finishes against stakes company in his last two starts.
He finished in the show spot behind winner Prince of Jericho in the $99,000 Concern at seven furlongs at Laurel Park on July 1 and behind Swirvin and Steel Valley foe Super Chow in the $106,000 Jersey Shore going six furlongs at Monmouth on Aug. 5.
Recruiter is trained by Cathal Lynch for Lynch Racing LLC and Nick Sanna Stables LLC and has won five on nine career starts with three seconds while earning $233,345.
Lynch purchased Recruiter for $125,000 in June of last year at Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company from Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables consignment. He also went through the auction ring at OBS as a short yearling in January of 2021 in the Winter Mixed Sale where breeder Beth Bayer consigned him and Jackman Bottom Trading Co., as agent purchased him for $60,000.
Recruiter is by Army Mule out of Lady Halite, by Medaglia d’Oro and will be ridden from post six by Tyler Connor.
Meadow Value makes his second career start in the Steel Valley after winning a $12,500 maiden claiming with jockey McKenna Anderson aboard by nearly six lengths after five-and-a-half furlongs at Horseshoe Indiana on Oct. 23.
The 3-year-old son of Long on Value is trained by Michelle Elliot for Elliot Racing LLC and was bred in Florida by Just for Fun Stable Inc. He is out of Valid Meadow, by Meadowlake and earned $10,200 in his lone start.
Meadow Value has post three and Anderson will again ride.
The other six set for the Steel Valley are Frosted Departure, who will be ridden by Angel Diaz; Ryvit and jockey Keith Asmussen, Angeloo’s Dream will have David Haldar in the saddle, Nautical Star has Irad Ortiz Jr., named to ride, Emisael Jaramillo has the mount on Super Chow, and Tyler Gaffalione ships in to ride Halmstad.
