Needmore Flattery leads field of nine in DeBartolo Memorial

Older Ohio-bred fillies and mares will battle for superiority Sunday in the $50,000 Rose DeBartolo Memorial at ThistleDown. Nine horses, including three coupled entries, are scheduled to run in the 1 1/16-mile event.

Key contenders

Caviar N Champagne (Last 3 Beyers: 60-60-68)

* One of two horses trained by Jake Radosevich for Loooch Racing Stables Inc. in the DeBartolo, she comes off a win at the same distance Aug. 10 in the Vivacious Handicap at Belterra Park.

* Caviar N Champagne has won 3 of 4 at the distance and 4 of 10 locally.

* Won this race last year with a 72 Beyer Speed Figure.

Morant Bay (Last 3 Beyers: 62-65-55)

* She is the other half of the Radosevich entry and ships in from Woodbine to run against statebred company for the first time.

* Although winless in two starts this year, she finished third, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 3 Mazarine last season. That race also was at 1 1/16 miles.

Needmore Flattery (Last 3 Beyers: 55-72-60)

* Part of a coupled entry with Startin Something, trained by Tim Hamm and with the common ownership of his Blazing Meadow Farm, although both are owned in partnerships.

* She looks to be the one to beat, as she is coming off a pair of wins in statebred 1 1/8-mile races. She won the $75,000 Cleveland Gold Cup locally July 5. In her last out July 27, she won the $75,000 Queen City Oaks at Belterra Park.

* She won 5 of 8 last year and was named Ohio’s 2-year-old filly champion and Horse of the Year. She has won 4 of 7 this year and has won 4 of 6 locally lifetime.

Pay the Man (Last 3 Beyers: 41-58-59)

* Pay the Man has won more than $1 million and has won 19 of 33 races locally. Although she has won only two races in the past two seasons, it is tough to throw out the venerable lady.