Breeders' Cup: Alaura Michele, Slip Along Band face off in Miss Grillo ahead of Juvenile Fillies Turf

The first meeting of Alaura Michele and Slip Along Band, who are leading American-based candidates for the Grade 2, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 4, could come Sunday at Belmont Park. Both are possible for the Grade 3, $100,000 Miss Grillo.

Alaura Michele is 2 for 2 on turf, with her biggest win on the surface coming last out in the P.G. Johnson at Saratoga on Aug. 31.

“She may start in the Miss Grillo,” trainer Bill Mott said. “She had gotten a little bit of a virus right after the last race. We’d be doing it off of one work, but you know, it could be okay.”

Slip Along Band won the Junior Champion at Monmouth in her turf debut Sept. 4. She is possible for the Miss Grillo, while trainer Michael Pino said the other option is to await the Grade 3, $150,000 Jessamine at Keeneland on Oct. 13.

The Jessamine is the last of the four Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In races for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Maybe accounted for the first berth Aug. 28, when she ran her record to 5 for 5 in the Group 1 Moyglare in Ireland. Northern Passion won the second challenge race Sept. 17, in the Grade 3 Natalma at Woodbine. Lyric of Light earned a berth for her measured win in the Group 1 Fillies Mile on Sept. 23 in England.

• My Gi Gi shipped last week from Louisiana Downs to trainer Brian Koriner at Santa Anita after Richard Lynn sold interests in the filly to Greg Unruh and Wade Jacobsen. Koriner said she is to make her dirt debut in the Oak Leaf on Sunday, with the first objective to make the BC Juvenile Fillies. The other option for My Gi Gi, who is stakes placed on turf and whose dam was third in the Group 1 Epsom Oaks, is the Juvenile Fillies Turf, Koriner said.

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