Venue & Timing
Location: Mahoning Valley Race Course, Youngstown, Ohio
Race: Cardinal Stakes (Race 6)
Post Time: 2:18 PM ET
Distance & Surface: 6 furlongs, dirt
Purse: $75,000
Weather & Track Conditions
Forecast: Cloudy skies, temperatures in the low‑40s, light winds.
Track outlook: Dirt expected to play fast, though cooler temps may slightly favor stalkers over deep closers.
Runner-by-Runner Analysis
Superwolf — Post 5 — Barbaran/Gorham — ML 5/2
Profile: Instagrand gelding; lightly raced but sharp.
Strengths: Tactical speed, Gorham barn excels with Ohio stakes.
Risks: Faces older rivals; must prove class.
Empire’s Fire — Post 7 — Bracho/Radosevich — ML 3/1
Profile: Veteran Empire Way gelding; multiple stakes wins.
Strengths: Experience, strong closing kick.
Risks: Age may limit late punch.
Fortissimo — Post 6 — Ortiz Jr./Hamm — ML 7/2
Profile: Take Charge Indy gelding; improving 3‑year‑old.
Strengths: Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard; strong late kick.
Risks: Needs pace to collapse.
Boots Malone — Post 3 — Becerra/Gorham — ML 4/1
Profile: Gormley gelding; consistent allowance form.
Strengths: Can stalk pace; Gorham’s second entrant.
Risks: Must step forward in class.
Stage Name — Post 4 — Ortiz/Hamm — ML 8/1
Profile: Bodemeister gelding; modest record.
Strengths: Jose Ortiz aboard; tactical speed.
Risks: Outclassed against top tier.
Vdaytothetenacious — Post 2 — Lanerie/Romans — ML 10/1
Profile: Midshipman colt; versatile.
Strengths: Romans barn sharp; Lanerie’s tactical riding.
Risks: Needs career‑best effort.
Henry Mac — Post 1 — Rivera/Radosevich — ML 15/1
Profile: Veteran Midshipman gelding.
Strengths: Rail trip; Radosevich barn.
Risks: Outclassed.
Curious Corn — Post 8 — Hernandez/Jarvis — ML 20/1
Profile: Kettle Corn gelding; outsider.
Strengths: Light impost.
Risks: Form suggests longshot status.
