Showing a new dimension in the $300,000 Steel Valley Sprint Stakes, Ryvit rallied from the back of the pack to claim the victory Nov. 20 at Mahoning Valley Race Course.
Typically forwardly-placed, jockey Keith Asmussen anchored the colt back on Monday after he was barreled into at the start by favored Damon's Mound. Racing well off a three-way speed duel between Damon's Mound, Super Chow, and Uncashed, Ryvit saved ground around the rail and was angled into the clear at the top of the stretch.
Damon's Mound clung to his lead past a half-mile in :45.26 but was drifting out noticeably during the stretch run and lost his advantage when Ryvit rallied past him down the center of the stretch in the final sixteenth.
Ryvit, 2 1/4 lengths clear at the wire, raced the six furlongs on a fast main track in 1:10.65.
Damon's Mound, who had defeated Ryvit in their last meeting in the Sept. 23 Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) at Parx Racing, finished second. Super Chow was four lengths back in third.
Raced by William and Corinne Heiligbrodt and trained by Asmussen's father, Steve Asmussen, 3-year-old Ryvit registered the fourth stakes win of his career and boosted his earnings to $658,484. The Steel Valley was the Competitive Edge colt's first time visiting the winner's circle since he had a five-race win streak snapped earlier this year in the Amsterdam Stakes (G2).
