Speed might just trump experience

A full field of 14 Ohio-bred 3-year-old fillies is entered to sprint six furlongs in the $75,000 Southern Park Stakes on Thursday at Mahoning Valley. And although there are a handful of stakes-seasoned fillies in the field, the race could hinge on a tilt up front between two speedy and lightly raced recent maiden winners: Neechi, for trainer Robert Gorham, and Larry’s Angel, trained by Billy Cowans.

Neechi has been flattered by her company in both her starts. The filly was fifth on debut in October at Mahoning Valley, improving her position late while finishing behind a nextout winner. In her second start, in December, she faced early pace pressure before kicking clear to win by 7 1/2 lengths. The third-place finisher, Chanel Spirit, emerged to win a stakes restricted to Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners sales graduates, and returns for the Southern Park.

Neechi has been working at Mahoning Valley in preparation for her 3-year-old debut.

Larry’s Angel crossed the line first by a half-length in her debut, but was disqualified to second for bearing out late. In her second outing, she left no doubt, leading throughout and winning by 4 1/2 lengths while ridden out.

In Troubled Waters could be another pace factor, as she won the Glacial Princess Stakes wire to wire last December at Mahoning Valley for trainer Rodney Faulkner. But she finished 12th in the Joshua Radosevich Memorial in her juvenile finale and latest start.

Near Perfect, trained by Gorham, was third in the Emerald Necklace, third in the Glacial Princess behind In Troubled Waters, and second in the Radosevich Memorial last year. She won an allowance in her only start as a 3-year-old.

Soft Talk and Sparkling Jewel finished second and third in last fall’s John Galbreath Memorial, the 2-year-old filly race on the Best of Ohio program.

Shakeurskinnylegs posted her biggest victory in an allowance race last November at Mahoning Valley over Soft Talk and Near Perfect. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 63, the highest career number in this field. In Troubled Waters, with a career-best figure of 61, and Sparkling Jewel, with a top number of 60, are the only others to approach that threshold.

Savesomeforme has not yet crossed the line first in a race, but was promoted to a maiden win on the first-out disqualification of Larry’s Angel. Completing the field are allowance winners Emerson Jones and Factisimflashy, maiden winners Brownie and Hello Sweets, and first-time starter Outpost Girl.

Savesomeforme and Hello Sweets are also trained by Gorham, giving him a total of four in this field.