Joshua and Marnie Whitney’s RIZZI GIRL (Rizzi) made a spectacular late run to
win the $125,000
Hillsborough S. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday. The seven-year-old mare
took up her usual stalking position as Sister Star (Langfuhr) and Noisette
(Broad Brush) marked out fractions of :24 4/5, :50 3/5, 1:16 and 1:40 2/5. The
William Downing trainee entered the stretch in fifth place, but made up ground
quickly under Oliver Castillo to post a neck win, ending the about 1 1/8-mile
good turf affair in 1:52 2/5.
Rizzi Girl left the gate at 10-1 to return $23.20, $9 and $5.20. Sister Star
gave $6.80 and $4.60 at 4-1 while Noisette came another 2 3/4 lengths back in
third at 4-1 to pay $4.40. The exotics were $155.20 (exacta), $555.40 (trifecta)
and $1,307.80 (1-12-11-10 superfecta). Snowdrops (GB) (Gulch), Sparkling Humor (Distorted
Humor), Romancin Dixie (Dove Hunt), Chef’s Choice (Eskimo), Cute Connie
(Struggler [GB]) and Nannycam (Pulpit) rounded out the order of finish. Adobe
Gold (Touch Gold), Delta Princess (A.P. Indy) and Givememore (Brz) (Special
Nash [Ire]) were scratched.
Rizzi Girl recorded her first graded score and now shows a record of
64-14-10-7 with earnings of $329,068. The gray mare is out of Leggy Super Model (Vigors)
and is a half-sister to Sham S. runner-up Papi Chullo (Comeonmom), who is
expected to make a run at the Florida Derby (G1) on April 2. Bred in Florida by
Philip and Karen Matthews, Rizzi Girl sold for $13,000 as an OBS August
yearling.