Leona's Reward goes on short rest in Bobbie Bricker Memorial

Since winning her maiden in late July in her 11th start, the 3-year-old filly Leona’s Reward has run well in all but one of her six races. That came when she challenged males two weeks ago in the Ruff-Kirchberg Memorial Handicap at 1 1/8 miles.

Back with fillies and mares, Leona’s Reward should be formidable when she tackles six other Ohio-accredited females Saturday in the $75,000 Bobbie Bricker Memorial Handicap at Mahoning Valley Race Course. The 1 1/16-mile Bricker (race 7) and the $75,000 Josh Radosevich Memorial for Ohio-accredited 2-year-olds going six furlongs (race 8) are the final stakes in Ohio until next spring.

Leona’s Reward faces a rematch with Deniro’s Saint, a 6-year-old mare whose 10 victories include eight stakes. Deniro’s Saint won last year’s Bricker as the 2-5 favorite, but Leona’s Reward beat her by 4 3/4 lengths when they met a month ago in the 1 1/16-mile Ohio Debutante.

The only question with Leona’s Reward is how she will perform on short rest. Leona’s Reward finished fifth the two times trainer Tim Hamm ran her back in two weeks.

Hamm will also saddle Startin Something, who won the 2012 Bricker, was second twice in the race, and finished third last year. The 8-year-old Startin Something hasn’t won since her first start of 2013 and has lost 32 in a row.

Mobil Sky returns to sprint

Mobil Sky, the winner of the Loyalty at Thistledown the last time he sprinted, is the lone two-time winner among 10 2-year-old colts and geldings in the Radosevich, named in honor of Josh Radosevich, the 16-year-old apprentice rider who was killed in an accident at Beulah Park in 2005. Mobil Sky is trained by Josh’s uncle Jeff Radosevich and will be ridden by Josh’s older brother Jake.

Mobil Sky is cutting back in distance after he was beaten 24 lengths going 1 1/16 miles in the Best of Ohio Juvenile on Oct. 29.

Jeff Radosevich has also entered Lunar Heat, who has been at least second in three of his last five starts. His dam, Alpha Heat, won $336,966 during her 16-race career, including a win in the Zadracarta sprinting on turf, a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Royal North on turf, and a third in the Grade 1 Woodbine Oaks on Polytrack.

The most intriguing runner in the field is Ol’ L B, who adds Lasix after finishing a close second in his career debut Nov. 30. He is a half-brother to Dirt Monster, who has won three stakes in New Mexico over the past two seasons.