STABLE SOPHOMORES BATTLE TO A 1-2 FINISH AT MAHONING VALLEY
- chris lialios
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
“It ain’t over ‘till it's over.” In Thursday’s featured $33,700 allowance event at Mahoning Valley it looked like our Dr. Spirito shook off the constant challenge of the odds-on favorite and had clear sailing as the field straightened into the stretch. Former paddock pal, Rogues a Plotting, who led by a small margin for the first two furlongs, appeared to be backing up from his early efforts keeping pace with the top two pacesetters. Upon further review, it seems jockey Luis Rivera was backing the leggy gelding up to get him away from the rail he was assigned to break from – good call.
The grey Dr. Spirito disposed of his main foe and looked to have nothing in his way to his second career victory...Rogues a Plotting and Luis Rivers had other plans for the outcome. Mahoning has been plagued by wet weather for the majority of the season and, once again, the track was rated as sloppy. Most tracks drain towards the inside, and the surface there did not play to the advantage of the long-striding chestnut. As soon as Rogues a Plotting got several paths off the rail his hooves hit tighter ground, he split the top two, came on even terms with Dr. Spirito and finished 3 1⁄2 lengths to the better of our other color bearer.
The winning move didn’t escape the eye of track announcer Matt Hook who stated publicly that, “What a different horse Rogues a Plotting was when he got off the rail. I thought he was done!” Penny Rone saddled the chestnut son of Dominus-Too Shy Shy-Distorted Humor who came out in the pre-race post parade “shining like a copper penny” – no pun intended. It was a good day for HMDC, Taste of Victory and TBC Racing. The combined earnings for the Mapleton-breds on the afternoon was $26,960 – a good day at the races and our boys look ready to roll for their upcoming efforts.
P.S. Rogues a Plotting will celebrate his chronological 3rd birthday on Thursday I believe he earned a few extra carrots on his cake.
Horse Workout Notification
April 6, 2026
Gray Perfection (3-Year-Old Filly)
Date: April 6, 2026
Track: MAHONING VALLEY RACE COURSE
Distance: Five Furlongs
Time: 1.03:10 Breezing
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 2/2
