Long On Value gelding breaks his maiden at Penn National

Long On Value has had just 10 runners thus far in 2023, but he picked up winner No. 4 when Don’t Question Me made an eye-opening run to capture a mile and a sixteenth maiden claimer at Penn National Wednesday night.

It took the 3-year-old gelding bred by Joseph Arbiritanza nine tries to get his first victory, but when it came, it was a thing of beauty. He broke fifth on the rail under Richard Chiappe, and drifted into the two path as they passed the quarter in :24.54. He began moving up on the backstretch and was fourth as they hit the half in :48.34, but suddenly dropped back for no apparent reason and was six lengths behind the leaders on the turn. Just as quickly, Don’t Question Me revved it up and closed the gap with a rush, went after the three battling leaders in the lane and coasted to the finish 1 1/2 lengths in front.

Don’t Question Me paid $13, earned a check for $8,160, and despite this being his first score, he raised his record to a respectable 1-0-3-3 in his nine starts.