Grizabella surges to take Bobbie Bricker Memorial Handicap

Grizabella kicked clear in the stretch for a one-length victory in the $75,000 Bobbie Bricker Memorial Handicap for Ohio-accredited fillies and mares Saturday at Mahoning Valley.

Grizabella ($11.80) and Luis Rivera were fifth at the quarter pole, but just shy of three lengths back. The 6-year-old mare, trained by Jeff Radosevich, slipped through between horses in upper stretch and prevailed in the drive. She finished the mile in 1:42.99.

Mobil Lady was second, 1 1/2 lengths clear of Edge of Night, who was sent away as the favorite. Another head back in fourth was Leona’s Reward, the four-time defending winner of the Bricker Memorial, who ran evenly throughout. The 14-time stakes winner did push her earnings to millionaire status, to $1,000,556, with the fourth-place check.

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This was the third career stakes win for Grizabella, the two-time defending winner of the Miss Southern Ohio Stakes.

One race later, favored Big Truck ($6.20) won the co-featured $75,000 Joshua Radosevich Memorial for Ohio-accredited juveniles. Second turning into the stretch under Sonny Leon, he pounced on pacesetter First Song and powered clear to win by 2 1/2 lengths at the wire. He finished six furlongs in 1:13.65.

This was the stakes debut for Big Truck, who has won twice from four career starts for Larry Smith.