Mo Dont No back sprinting in Cardinal Handicap

Ohio’s version of the Breeders’ Cup was several weeks ago, with top statebreds tangling on the annual Best of Ohio program at Belterra Park. On Saturday, as the Breeders’ Cup takes place at Del Mar, there is still plenty of action to be had in Ohio.

Several competitors from the Best of Ohio program, including reigning statebred horse of the year Mo Dont No, are back for a pair of stakes as Mahoning Valley kicks off its stakes schedule.

Mo Dont No comes into the $75,000 Cardinal Handicap having won five consecutive races, all for trainer Jeff Radosevich, including a repeat victory and track-record performance in the Best of Ohio Endurance. It was his sixth stakes victory, and he is unbeaten at that 1 1/4-mile distance. However, he doesn’t display much vulnerability as he cuts back to a sprint in the Cardinal. He owns six wins from nine starts at the six-furlong trip and has never been worse than second at that distance.

Mo Dont No’s chief rivals in the Cardinal are Hijo de Sheltowee and fellow Ohio champion Rivers Run Deep, who were first and second in the Best of Ohio Sprint. That was the first stakes victory for Hijo de Sheltowee, who has won consecutive races. The millionaire Rivers Run Deep was the beaten favorite in his attempt for a four-peat in the Best of Ohio Sprint, edged just a nose by Hijo de Sheltowee.

Saturday’s card also includes the $75,000 Ohio Debutante for Ohio-accredited fillies and mares, with True Cinder looking to get back on track against the mare who snapped her win streak last out.

True Cinder, owned and trained by Michael Rone, had won six consecutive races by a combined 31 lengths entering the Catlaunch Stakes at Thistledown. That streak included four stakes, with races on both dirt and turf, at all three of Ohio’s Thoroughbred tracks, and at sprint and route distances.

But in the Catlaunch, Leona’s Reward drove between horses for a half-length victory, with True Cinder holding second. Leona’s Reward subsequently finished fourth in the Best of Ohio Distaff.