Pleasant Passage Posts Front-End Victory in Miss Grillo
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Joe Labozzetta
Pleasant Passage wins the Miss Grillo Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
Emory Hamilton homebred Pleasant Passage found rainy conditions and a yielding turf course to her liking in living up to her name in the $200,000 Miss Grillo Stakes (G2T) Oct. 1 at the Belmont at the Big A meet.
The 2-year-old daughter of More Than Ready delivered a gate-to-wire, three-quarter of a length victory that could catapult her to the Breeders' Cup Nov. 4 at Keeneland should her connections choose to go. Contested at 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-old fillies on the inner turf course Saturday at Aqueduct, the Miss Grillo was a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" event for the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T).
A 15-1 winner on debut Aug. 21 at Saratoga Race Course for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, Pleasant Passage again flew under the radar in the Miss Grillo despite attracting the services of meet-leading rider Irad Oritz Jr. Sent off at odds of 9-1, she immediately made her presence felt as she broke alertly and showed more early speed than in her debut when she settled more than a half-dozen lengths off the pace and closed along the hedge to prevail.
"She ran well in her first start from a little off the pace coming up the rail. She was very professional," said McGaughey. "Today, there wasn't any speed in the race, and she had trained sharp off her last race. Irad let her do her thing when she broke, and he rode a good race on her."
Her instant tactical advantage in the Miss Grillo was amplified as she was allowed to set reasonable splits. At the top of the stretch, Pleasant Passage and Free Look separated from the remainder of the field of six, and although Free Look was a dogged pursuer of the pacesetter through the ample Big A stretch, she could make up no ground as Pleasant Passage dashed to the wire in a time of 1:45.25.
"There wasn't too much speed in the race, and I knew if I could be in front that would be good for me," Ortiz said. "It worked out well because I made the lead easily. On the backside, she was nice and relaxed. When I asked her to go, she responded, and she was there for me."
The Klaravich Stables color-bearer Free Look had to settle for second, two lengths clear of P.G. Johnson Stakes winner Be Your Best in third, who couldn't make any appreciable ground on the top two in the stretch.
"It was a real good effort," said trainer Chad Brown of Free Look. "Obviously it was an easy pace in front of us, but we didn't have any excuse. We had dead aim the whole way. I'm real happy with the filly's effort. I'll probably go on to the next one (the Breeders' Cup) if she comes out of this OK. Now that I have five weeks in between races, a little bit more time would benefit her."
Bred in Kentucky, Pleasant Passage is out of the War Front mare Peaceful Passage . The dam, a half-sister to graded stakes winner Hungry Island , has two winners from as many foals to race. She also has a yearling colt by Kitten's Joy .