Lady Cherie heads Bricker Memorial

GROVE CITY, Ohio - Starting highweight and likely odds-on choice Lady Cherie heads a field of 10 Ohio-accredited fillies and mares in Sunday's 1 1/16-mile, $45,000 Bobbie Bricker Memorial Handicap at Beulah Park.

Lady Cherie, who will be coupled in the wagering with Left Lane Lorrain as part of an M.Y. Stable Inc. entry, is one of only two horses entered in the Bricker who have a stakes win in 2002.

A 5-year-old daughter of Al Sabin, Lady Cherie has won two stakes this year, the most recent of which came in the Vivacious Handicap on Aug. 18 at River Downs when she rallied to score a 2 3/4-length victory.

Michael Nance trains Lady Cherie, who has won 15 of 31 career starts. good for more than $480,000 in earnings, which tops the Bricker field by more than $295,000. Regular rider Julio Felix will be in from Thistledown for the mount at 123 pounds; Lady Cherie must concede between six and 15 pounds to her nine rivals.

A 3-year-old filly, Come Hither, is the other 2002 stakes and she may have the best chance of upsetting Lady Cherie. James Morgan trains Come Hither, a daughter of Left Banker who has compiled a record of 3-2-3 from just nine career starts for owner Eutrophia Farm. Come Hither, who will carry 117 pounds, should make a late run in the Bricker under jockey Bill Troilo.