AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
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MISS GRILLO S. (G3), 6TH-BEL, $150,000, 2YO, F, 1 1/16MT, 3:39 P.M. EDT, 10-4 |
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| 1 |
SMART SEATTLE, 2, f, by Smart StrikeSeattle Bay, by Opening Verse O-Augustin Stables; B-George Strawbridge Jr. (Pa) |
| 2 |
ZODIAC GIRL, 2, f, by AldebaranWith My Blessings, by Pulpit O-Brown Ronald; B-Kirk & Deby Wycoff (Ky) |
| 3 |
ZILVA, 2, f, by Successful AppealSpellmaker, by Storm Cat O-Augustin Stables; B-George Strawbridge Jr. (Pa) |
| 4 |
NEGLIGEE, 2, f, by Northern AfleetNaughty Notions, by Relaunch O-Sovereign Stable; B-Twin Creeks Farm (Ky) |
| 5 |
HATHEER, 2, f, by Storm Cat—Golden Apples (Ire), by Pivotal O-Shadwell Stable; B-Shadwell Farm (Ky) |
| 6 |
TAPITSFLY, 2, f, by TapitFlying Marlin, by Marlin O-Jones Jr Frank L; B-Jones Frank (Ky) |
| 7 |
CHECK THE LABEL, 2, f, by Stormin FeverDon’t Trick Her, by Mazel Trick O-Jones Brereton C; B-Jones Brereton C. (Ky) |
| 8 |
DAD’S CRAZY, 2, f, by LangfuhrCharismatic Lady, by End Sweep O-Smarch Racing; B-Harrigan William B. (Ky) |
| 9 |
FUZZY BRITCHES, 2, f, by Pollard’s VisionFlame Trick, by Mt. Livermore O-Robbins Lll Lansdon B Az Azalea Stables; B-Lansdon B. Robbins (Ky) |
A field of nine juvenile fillies will travel 1 1/16 miles in the $150,000
Miss Grillo S. (G3) on Sunday on the Belmont Park inner turf oval. These fields
are always a bit tricky in determining who might be ready to fire, so we will
look for one who should offer a fair amount of value.
ZODIAC GIRL (Aldebaran) reminds us, from a running standpoint, of the filly who
won this in 2008, Maram (Sahm), so we will give this one the nod in hopes that
trainer Chad Brown could win his second straight in this grass affair. A
three-length maiden heroine versus claiming foes, the intriguing chestnut has
had four works since her debut for a conditioner who often does better with
second-time starters. Jose Lezcano retains the mount.
P. G. Johnson S. runner-up SMART SEATTLE (Smart Strike) has every right to
improve in her second route try and should be a big factor with any improvement
for Graham Motion. The bay filly was a sharp first-out winner at Saratoga and gives the impression of a filly who can handle a distance like
this with ease, so we’ll definitely use the Pennsylvania-bred from the rail.
NEGLIGEE (Northern Afleet) had run two solid races in Canada before being
sent to the United States and trainer John Terranova in advance of this tilt. Second in
the Ontario Debutante S. over the Woodbine Polytrack last out, the Kentucky-bred
should be able to handle the sod and Terranova is a solid trainer, so we see
nothing wrong with this one.
The blue-blooded HATHEER (Storm Cat) has run a pair of solid races for Kiaran
McLaughlin, including a commanding maiden win at this distance upstate in her
latest test. The top prospect has good tactical speed and has done little wrong
thus far, but we fear that she’ll be overbet and will take a stand against in
this wide-open event. ZILVA (Successful Appeal) closed in :29 and change for the final
five-sixteenths of her maiden win and appears to have a useful future on the
lawn. Coupled in the wagering with our second pick for Motion, this one
adds some insurance if her stablemate fails to fire.
P. G. Johnson winner TAPITSFLY (Tapit) led throughout in her recent stakes
win, which was her turf debut, but the competition in here is much more than she
saw last out and she could be vulnerable at short odds. Maiden DAD’S CRAZY (Langfuhr) drew widest of all and might make more sense
against non-winners for Todd Pletcher. Motion’s third entrant, CHECK THE LABEL (Stormin Fever), was a fine maiden
victress at Colonial two back but has shown little in a pair of affairs on the
main oval. We’ll wait for this one to win at a bigger venue before we take a
chance.
Main-track only entrant FUZZY BRITCHES (Pollard’s Vision) would be a major
threat if the rains washed this off the lawn.