An exceptionally quiet night of US racing with Mahoning Valley providing the chosen venue for all four selections - live on Sky Sports Racing. On the positive side the relatively limited number of horses stabled there means there are numerous collateral lines of form to assess, but less so, with temperatures having risen from below freezing to almost 20 degrees Celsius in the past week, most of those lines have been played out under off-track conditions, rather than the expected fast going this evening.

The Stateside Preview from Mahoning Valley for Tuesday 31 March 2026

Mahoning Valley Race 3 (6.11pm)

$5K Claimer – Fillies and Mares – 3 year olds and upwards– One Mile – Dirt.

Various formlines link this field together but it’s the victory of PRINCESS HALIME (1) over Wicca Wisdom (6) and Maliced (3) three weeks ago that could prove the most pertinent.

Susan Yoder’s eight-year-old mare stalked longshot Maliced – who had set the fractions but faltered badly at the 3/8th pole – before Wicca Wisdom made a late bid to snatch third. But even with a 2lb turnaround, the four lengths she has to find could prove too much.

The inside draw for the selection offers Luis Batista the opportunity to lead, but he may choose to let T D Houghton and Malice do the heavy lifting. That eight-year-old has won eight from 23 at the Ohio circuit but these days appears best over 6f.

Princess Halime scores highly on consistency – a welcome attribute in $5k Claimers – and can be forgiven what appears ‘a stinker’ two starts back when drawn wide.

A New Peace (2) notched up an all-the-way score at this level last time out – but was only marginally preferred in the market to Maliced – who again dropped out of the TV late on – as market principals, suggesting the form could be questionable. That said, Larry Smith’s ten-year-old has won four from seven at this venue and successfully landed odds-on quotes over Wicca Wisdom on Christmas Eve, so in a weak contest may have a say, but I’m not convinced.

 Selection: PRINCESS HALIME (1)

Mahoning Valley Race 6 (7.35pm)

$5K Claimer – Fillies and Mares – 3year-olds and upwards – 6 Furlongs – Dirt.

A distinct lack of early pace rivals could allow REMEMBER ME (4)  an easy lead with the booking of Chelsey Keiser  - four from seven for Jevon Crumley – adding further credence to her claims.

Her third place finish in an identical contest a fortnight ago appears the key formline, and while on paper she has a couple of lengths to find with the runner-up Mali Bali (5) on the same terms, a bump for the selection that day, coupled with a more attractive pace set-up offers hopes for a form reversal. Mali Bali is capable of picking up $5k Claimers here but is statistically twice as likely to finish second in her races.

Miss Foxann (5) fell away tamely in that same mid-March clash and while she did narrowly account for Sicilian Style Two (2) in a $7500/4L contest in her previous start that first venture into Open Claiming company was by some degree her poorest effort so far.

Thirsty Accountant (3) makes more appeal, having finished on the heels off Mali Bali and Remember Me in that key race, especially given a 2lb more favourable weight reversal and is one for inclusion in the exotics.

Selection: REMEMBER ME (4)

Mahoning Valley Race 7 (8.03pm)

Allowance – State Bred – 3 year-olds and upwards – 1 Mile – Dirt

Unexposed CAT’S CRADLE (2) can make the trip up to One Mile a successful one and in doing record her second victory in just four starts.

Robert Gorham’s filly, who secured a 6f local Maiden win on her debut last November, did a lot of late running to finish second over the same trip here last time out, even if regular rider Erik Barbaran didn’t overexert himself when it was obvious he wasn’t going to catch the leader. That late stalking effort was almost a repeat of another runners-up spot at the level on her previous start, suggesting the step up to a route looks sure to suit.

Kerkyra (4) within a length of the selection in that latest encounter, would in theory hold claims of reversing the form on marginally better terms but came under more pressure than her rival late on in that contest. The Michael Evans trained filly is also more exposed with eight starts under her belt but still appears the biggest threat.

Four of the remaining five runners also emerge from that race with 40/1 longshot Pirinola (6), another length and a half back in fourth finishing best of the rest. Pacesetting Striking Lady (7) – who went off a similar price to Cat’s Cradle - could again control the fractions, but faded badly in the stretch, finishing only just ahead of the rag Ebony’s Secret (5). Thoroughly exposed Mobil Dream Star (1), with 21 starts to her name, finished just in front of that pair.

Last time out Maiden winner Jac’s Cocoabella (3), who won by a ‘drawing off’ ten lengths has at least confirmed she has no stamina concerns, with that victory coming over today’s C&D.

Selection: CAT’S CRADLE  (2)

Mahoning Valley Race 8 (8.31pm)

Allowance Entry level  – Three Year Olds and Upwards – 6 Furlongs – Dirt

 A quartet of this field emerge from filling the next four positions behind the winner in an identical contest over track and trip 18 days ago.

And it’s the runner-up COOL COUPLE (3) that is taken to frank the form having stayed on best to get within one and a half lengths of the winner.

The four-year-old, sent off a 16/1chance in that race, came from the back to catch the more pace handy Pallino (2), who to his credit battled on gamely in finishing a close-up third and could again provide the hare.

In terms of taking ‘a slice’ however Fourdatesforhoco (1), two lengths behind the selection but with a 2lb weight edge, makes more appeal. The four time winner from 13 at the Buckeye venue for in-form Craig Sweeting (24% this season) is therefore suggested as the bottom pick on the exacta ticket. Dream On Baby (8) – the other runner to return from that race – was less than four lengths behind the winner in fifth but forfeited ground by spinning wide on the turn.

Wauhatchie (5), more recently seen on the Turfway synthetics, moves to Richard Zielinski fresh from a 5f $5k Claiming win but given the trainer’s 0-29 return with first time claimers makes only limited appeal.

 Selection: COOL COUPLE (3)