Sep 29, 2017
Chelsea Durand Photo
Orbolution looks to extend win streak against eight others in G3 Miss Grillo
by Anthony Affrunti
The Grade 3, $200,000 Miss Grillo brings an aspiring group of nine 2-year-old fillies together in an effort to launch their careers amid a 1 1/16-mile run over Belmont Park's inner turf on Sunday, and add a graded stakes victory to their resumes.
The field is led by StarLadies Racing's Orbolution, the lone filly in this affair that can boast multiple victories to her credit, and backs her credentials by being the only stakes winner in the field after her impressive score in the $100,000 P.G. Johnson at Saratoga for trainer Todd Pletcher. That victory followed her maiden-breaking score in her turf debut on the first Sunday of the meet where she showed her ability to rate early then pounce when asked by Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez.
"She's doing well," Pletcher said. "Everything's been smooth since the P.G. Johnson. We've been targeting this race since then. It seems like she's maintained form and doing well."
Much like her follow up win in the P.G. Johnson she showed her sudden burst of speed in her first victory which allows her to advance willingly in the late stages of a race. Her newfound ability followed two third place finishes while sprinting on dirt with her first, a six-wide debut at Keeneland followed by a moderate run in the slop at Belmont. Switching to the lawn has been an awakening for Orbolution.
"I thought she was very impressive in there [P.G. Johnson]," Pletcher said. "She displayed a good turn of foot and seems like both her efforts on the grass have been impressive and what we were hoping for."
For Pletcher, who trained Orbolution's dam My Rachel to three victories from 13 starts, but showed moderate success through three graded stakes on grass, his young filly's ability on the grass has allowed him to map out a hopeful but strategic plan that can propel the young filly to stardom. Asked what he's looking for in Sunday's race to continue on to her projected next start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on November 3, Pletcher, who has won the Miss Grillo twice, just wants more of the same effort.
"I think just another good performance," he said. "I think she's already shown that she's that type of filly so hopefully she continues and keeps improving."
Orbolution will break from post 6, and will be ridden by John Velazquez.
West Point Thoroughbreds filly Best Performance will make her fifth career start, and second grass try after closing to finish second in the seven furlong $350,000 Exacta Systems Juvenile Fillies Stakes for trainer Christophe Clement. Her race may be more impressive than what shows on paper due to the European style course at Kentucky Downs, and its deeper consistency. Now getting added ground, and a firmer course, the filly by Broken Vow is poised to return to the winners' circle, a spot she hasn't returned to since her win at first asking at Belmont in May.
"Well she's been a pleasant addition since she came in," Clement said. "She won her maiden in May, she's been placed twice in two different stakes, and I think she ran a great race the other day at Kentucky Downs on the turf, softer turf. I think she'd be better on firmer turf. She looks good. Let's go for it."
Off her maiden win Best Performance returned in the $150,000 Astoria, and finished second before trying graded company in the Grade 3 Schuylerville on Opening Day at Saratoga, where she didn't embarrass herself with another runner-up performance behind undefeated winner Dream It Is. The switch to turf came after a sharp work in 51.21 seconds around the dogs on the hallowed Oklahoma turf, suddenly changing their plans for her.
"I was always going to keep her on dirt, but she had a very good breeze one day on the grass for me in Saratoga on firm turf, and I just told the owner we should try her on the grass. I thought the race at Kentucky Downs was a nice race, and we can always bring her back to race on dirt, we'll see what happens."
Best Performance will run from post 8 and will be ridden by Joel Rosario who will be aboard for the first time.
Others entered to run are Life Time Citizen for trainer Phil Serpe and jockey Luis Saez, from post 1; Codrington for trainer David Donk and jockey Jose Ortiz from post 2; Southampton Way for trainer Horacio DePaz and jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. from post 3; Bramble Queen for trainer Michael Dini and jockey Nik Juarez from post 4; Indy Union for trainer Jeremiah Englehart and jockey Manny Franco from post 5; Significant Form for trainer Chad Brown and jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. from post 7; and Africa for trainer Chad Brown and Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano from post 9.
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