Domestic Agenda gives Brown record 10th Miss Grillo triumph
:quality(75))
Trainer Chad Brown continued his dominance of the Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont Park on Saturday, winning the Grade 2 turf fixture for 2-year-old fillies for a record 10th time as the undefeated Domestic Agenda rallied to a very impressive 4 1/2-length victory over Woodbine invader Bounce Back.
Domestic Agenda, who rallied to a popular maiden win four weeks ago at Saratoga in her only previous start, earned an automatic, fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with her Miss Grillo triumph.
Domestic Agenda, a daughter of American Pharoah, rated at the rear of the compact six-horse field leaving the backstretch under Flavien Prat. She launched her rally midway on the second turn, readily circled the field into the stretch, gained command from the tiring Bittersweet Memory nearing the furlong marker, quickly drew off and was never menaced thereafter.
Bounce Back, fourth in the Grade 1 Natalma in her previous start, broke slowest, also bided her time during the early going, checked briefly to last at the top of the lane before rallying mildly between rivals to be second-best. It was another two lengths farther back to third-place finisher Golden Siren.
Domestic Agenda is trained by Brown for Klaravich Stables Inc. She completed the distance over firm ground in 1:41.34 seconds and returned $3.94 to win.
I love the way that she powered away. I know she swapped leads late when she got bored and wasn’t around other horses, She’s a work in progress,” Brown said. “She’s still not finished, but that was a big step forward from her debut, which I thought she was quite green in the second turn. She was much more professional for the majority of the race today, and I think there is more to come from her.”
Brown said if all goes well, the Juvenile Fillies Turf will be next for Domestic Agenda, a race he has already won four times with previous Miss Grillo winners.
“She’s a horse who has her best days ahead of her. She’s really bred to be better as an older horse,” Brown added. “For her to do what she’s doing as a juvenile is quite remarkable, actually.”
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.