Mahoning Valley: Horse racing pick of the day for Dec. 8

Weekday picks and plays for Thoroughbred racing.

Tuesday, Dec. 8

Mahoning Valley, Race 2: $6,500 claiming (5 1/2 furlongs, 1:12 p.m. ET)

With just two starts under her belt, the 3-year-old filly #7 Due North (5-2 on the morning line) still has room for improvement.

In her debut over the Tapeta track at Woodbine, Due North easily wired a $5,000 maiden claiming race, where she defeated older rivals by 2 1/4 lengths. She subsequently faltered in a $5,000 claiming race for non-winners of two races lifetime, but considering Due North broke slowly and rallied from eleventh to finish fourth by three lengths, it wasn’t a bad effort.

Claimed out of her second start by trainer Elliot Sullivan, who strikes at a 23% rate with recent claiming acquisitions, Due North has the breeding to handle dirt and should find the competition at Mahoning Valley to be easier than Woodbine. She’ll add blinkers Tuesday, a winning move 23% of the time for Sullivan, and hot jockey Sonny Leon is slated to ride.

Let’s bet Due North to win and call it a day.

$30 to win on #7 Due North

Good luck!