Grizzel looking for a turf race out of town

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Grizzel recorded her second straight victory on Tapeta in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes here on May 21. However, with few options for 3-year-old fillies bred outside of Canada at Woodbine over the next few weeks, Grizzel likely will make her next start at another track.

Trainer Mike Doyle said he was looking to get Grizzel back on turf for her next start.

“She seems to love the Tapeta, but she likes the turf, too,” he said. “We’re looking at some long turf options out of town.”

Grizzel was originally purchased by Doyle’s brother Peter, a bloodstock agent in Europe, for 75,000 euros (about $83,800) at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up sale in April 2016. Co-owned by Doyle’s sister-in-law Anna and Merriebelle Stable LLC, Grizzel joined Doyle in Florida over the winter following a nine-race campaign in Europe as a 2-year-old sprinting on turf.

Though she had never raced a route of ground as a juvenile, Doyle said he thought Grizzel could stretch out effectively.

“She started out very early, and she won her first two starts going five-eighths,” he said. “Richard Hannon had her, and he thought she would go on, and so did I. I considered running her long first time out, but looking at her form, I didn’t think it was a good idea right off the bat.”

Doyle said Grizzel was outrun early but came home well in the Melody of Colors Stakes at Gulfstream Park over five furlongs on turf Feb. 25. She followed that up with a close fourth-place finish in the Sanibel Island Stakes, also at Gulfstream, over a mile on grass April 1. With her two wins at Woodbine, Doyle said he has high hopes for Grizzel.

“I think there’s some good things in her future,” he said.