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New York-bred Scythian earns Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf berth with G2 Miss Grillo score

by Lynne Snierson

Larry Goichman's New York-homebred Scythian took advantage of a heady ride by Junior Alvarado to defeat 11 other 2-year-old fillies and win Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Miss Grillo at Belmont at the Big A and advance to the Breeders' Cup.

The Miss Grillo is a "Win and You're In" for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Future Stars Friday at Del Mar on November 1 and the bay daughter of Tiz the Law earned an all-fees paid, guaranteed spot in the starting gate.

Nonetheless, the victory for Scythian, who is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, contained plenty of drama.

The New York-bred Marvelous Madison, who is also a Larry Goichman homebred but is trained by Chad Bown, was in prime position entering the stretch after setting sensible fractions of 23.26, 48.71 and 1:13.47 under Manny Franco. But in making just her second start after a September 2 win at Saratoga Race Course in state-bred company, she bolted to the outside while coming out of the far turn and nearing the quarter-pole. When she did, the Brown-trained Lavender Disaster was forced to check under Irad Ortiz, Jr. and Grace and Grit, who was ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, was part of the fracas. Marvelous Madison carried out the other two fillies to the widest part of the course and all chances were lost to the trio.

Fortunately, all three kept their balance and remained on their feet. Grace and Grit was settled by Carmouche and able to finish, winding up 10th. Lavender Disaster, who appeared poised to make her move just before the incident was eased to the wire and wound up the last of the dozen fillies. Marvelous Madison was also eased to the wire, finishing 11th.

"My filly just bolted," said Franco.

Meanwhile, Scythian, who was stalking the pace on the inside and therefore was able to avoid the trouble, inherited the lead in the upper stretch under urging by Alvarado and drew off along the rail to win by 2 1/2-lengths in the final time of 1:42.68 on the firm footing. Virgin Colada, the other of Brown's three runners in the field, closed from deep to finish second under Flavien Prat, a head in front of Correto.

"It was just bad luck. She [Virgin Colada] was just out of position, and she just didn't really help Flavien get any position. It all opened up and she was able to get second," said Brown. "Lavender Disaster - what a disaster really for this horse [Marvelous Madison] bolting. There's nothing I can do...I can't believe she did that. She looked like a winner every step of the way, Lavender Disaster."

Though Virgin Colada was not involved in the mishap and did manage to get second, Prat had far from an ideal experience aboard the Resolute Racing filly.

“I wasn’t very pleased with my trip down the backside. I just felt I was a bit too far. She didn’t break very well and if you don’t break very well, you get shuffled back right away," he said. "Those horses didn’t make the turn, and I find myself not far from the lead turning for home. She made a good run; I just couldn’t get by the winner.”

As displeased as Prat and Brown were, the connections of Scythian, who beat the boys in a state-bred maiden on August 30 at Saratoga Race Course in her prior race, had reason to celebrate.

"I was where I wanted to be. I got to save ground right away coming into the first turn and the second turn I was still saving enough ground. If I had to go inside or outside, I knew I already had saved plenty for me to have enough horse at the end," said Alvarado. "She ran great. She ran like we thought she would. She beat the boys last time and she was 11-1 today - you don't have to put me favorite, but I thought she was very live going against the fillies. Whatever happens, I still think she would be very tough. When I turned for home, she gave me a nice turn of foot. She won very impressively today."

Moreover, Scythian was able to avoid the misfortune that befell the other three fillies.

"I was just looking at Manny. Manny's filly was looking like she wanted to bolt from past the three-eighths pole. So, I was just trying to figure it out - I've got horse, where do I go. Is he going to pull her back inside or is she going to bolt? Knowing I had plenty of horse to make my move whenever I wanted to, it gave me a chance to wait a little longer. When that happened, that's when I zoomed in the inside and she took off after that," he explained.

Not only is Scythian now headed to the Breeders' Cup, but the win was also the first for Mott at the current meet.

“We’ve had 10 seconds at the meet, five in stakes. It’s always good to win one of these," said Leana Willaford, Mott's assistant. "She ran really well; Junior gave her a perfect trip. He had horse anyways [even with the incident in the turn]. He was in a perfect spot.”

The complete order of finish was Scythian, Virgin Colada, Correto, She's Got Will, Rare Art, Shifty, Annie Goodbody, Salt, Daisy Flyer, Grace and Grit, Marvelous Madison, and Lavender Disaster.

Scythian returned $24.20 for a $2 win bet and her record now stands at 3-2-1-0. She has now earned $177,500 after bringing home $110,000 from her Miss Grillo win.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Belmont at the Big A with an eight-race card. First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

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