Altissimo, Forewarned Among Best Of Ohio Winners

Five $150,000 stakes for Ohio-bred runners highlighted the racing at Mahoning Valley Racecourse in northeastern Ohio Oct. 26. 

Starting things off was the John Galbreath Memorial Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile event for 2-year-old fillies. Moonlit Mission prevailed by 2 1/4 lengths under Ricardo Mejias in a come-from-behind effort. The chestnut filly by Shackleford  finished in 1:46.84 and was followed by Nikki My Angel in second, Succotash in third, and Cristalinda in fourth.

Bred by Belvedere Farm and trained and owned by Charlie Williams, Moonlit Mission increased her earnings to $182,050. 

Liberate continued his winning ways, capturing the Juvenile Stakes under Geraldo Corrales as the even-money favorite. The gelded son of Gemologist  romped to an easy 7 3/4-length score under wraps in the 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds. Never headed, he was timed in 1:45.23.

Authentic Cowtown was second, followed by Wicked Warrior in third.

Trained by Tim Hamm for breeders/owners Winstar Farm and Blazing Meadows Farm and Michael Lewis, Liberate upped his earnings to $206,250. This was his third Ohio stakes victory, following scores in the Hoover Stakes and Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes this season.

Ohio's top sprinter, Altissimo, dominated the Best of Ohio Sprint Stakes. Clocked in 1:09.90 for six furlongs, the son of Noble Causeway notched his 17th win for owners Nancy Lavrich and Ronald Zielinski. Trained by Richard Zielinski, Altissimo pushed his earnings to $779,388.

Altissimo finished three-quarters of a length in front of Dare Day, with Diamond Dust third.

Bred by Nancy Lavrich and Niknar Farm, 6-year-old Altissimo won this same race in 2018.

Crowd favorite Leona's Reward set a track record of 1:52.03 for 1 1/8 miles in the Best of Ohio Distaff Stakes, with Geraldo Corrales riding for Hamm. The 6-year-old daughter of Parents' Reward was on top at every pole and won by three lengths.

Magna Rose was second, followed by Grizabella in third.

Leona's Reward has earned $842,556 from 17 wins, seven seconds, and five thirds in 45 starts. This season, she's amassed three wins in seven tries and $163,950 for owners/breeders Blazing Meadows Farm and Michael Friedman.

Forewarned and rider Anthony Salgado topped the afternoon by winning the Best of Ohio Endurance Stakes swiftly in 2:04.41 in come-from-behind fashion in the 1 1/4-mile contest. The 4-year-old bay son of Flat Out won by 2 3/4 lengths, with Mo Dont No second and Over Icce third.

Trained by Uriah St. Lewis for Trin-Brook Stables, Forewarned pushed his bankroll to $375,613 with seven wins, four seconds, and two thirds in 22 starts. He also captured the 2018 Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup.