Bobby Bricker Memorial Handicap
Grizabella (by Lunarpal out of Chic Cat by Tiger Ridge) closed out her 6-year-old campaign with a decisive victory in the Bobby Bricker Memorial Handicap at Mahoning Valley, crossing the wire a length in front of runner up Mobil Lady.
Shortly after the start in the 2-turn event, jockey Luis Rivera steered Grizabella over to rail to save ground heading into the first turn. Diva Power, as expected, set a reasonable uncontested pace, getting the first half mile in 49 and 1/5th, with favored Edge of Night and her stablemate Ting Tang sitting just in behind the leader. Mobil Lady was out in the 3-path, with stakes veteran Leona’s Reward widest of all. When the group hit the far turn, jockey Luis Rivera still had Grizabella on the rail, awaiting room after navigating around the tiring Ting Tang. He moved the 6yo mare through an opening on the rail in the final furlong, and then drew away to win by an increasing length. Mobil Lady (owned and trained by Shane Meyers) rallied up for second. Edge of Night held 3rd after a long stretch drive over 4th place finisher and Ohio-bred new millionaire Leona’s Reward.
Grizabella, who won her second stakes race in 2020 for Mahoning Valley’s meet leading trainer, Jeff Radosevich, also won the Miss Southern Ohio Stakes over Belterra’s turf course in September. Radosevich knows his way around the stakes conditions in Ohio, as Grizabella was his 7th Ohio stakes score of 2020.
Owned by long-time Ohio owner Michael Annechino, Grizabella ends her 2020 campaign with an overall record of 8 wins, 12 seconds and 10 thirds from 54 career starts. Since coming over to the connections of Annechino and Radosevich in April 2019, Grizabella has made 20 starts, with 5 wins (3 stakes), 6 seconds (3 stakes) and 4 thirds (2 stakes). “Hats off to team Radosevich on keeping Grizabella sharp all year,” said Annechino. “That she won stakes on both turf and dirt is a tribute to her courage and a testament to Jeff’s training,” he added. “In a difficult year for everyone, it was a wonderful early Christmas present that’s for sure!” closed Annechino.
Grizabella is by Lunarpal (now pensioned) out of Chic Cat, a stakes placed earner of over $160K by Tiger Ridge. Bred by Dr. George Sikora of Mapleton Thoroughbred Farm, Grizabella is the only winner thus far out of Chic Cat, with two siblings (a 2yo and 3yo by Mobil) placing in 2020 in Ohio company. Sikora has another ½ sister to Grizabella coming, with a weanling by Mobil born this past April.
