House of War steps out of statebred ranks for Pilgrim
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ELMONT, N.Y. – House of War may have defeated only New York-breds in his debut at Saratoga, but he did it in such a manner that suggests he can be competitive in open company.
Saturday, he’ll get the chance to prove just that when he faces 11 rivals in the Grade 2, $250,000 Pilgrim Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race that offers an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Oct. 30 at Keeneland.
House of War sat an inside trip while rated in sixth position in his Aug. 26 debut. Under jockey Manny Franco, House of War had to wait behind stalled horses around the far turn. Franco was able to find room in upper stretch and despite being four lengths back at the eighth pole, he rallied by Calling Mr. Mo and Nystateofmind to win by a length.
“He had the one hole, he was in a lot of trouble, he maneuvered his way around there, and he got it done,” trainer Jorge Abreu said. “I didn’t know he had that turn of foot turning for home.”
House of War worked over the Belmont turf course on Sept. 26, going a half-mile in 48.76 seconds, getting his final quarter in 23.46 in company with stakes winner Jody’s Pride. Antonio Fresu was aboard for the work and will ride him in the Pilgrim.
Franco is riding Chief of Peace, who won his debut Aug. 23 at Saratoga by a head over And the Runner Is. Trainer Miguel Clement described Chief of Peace as “very much a big boy figuring it all out. Life’s just a big game; he’s just starting to put it all together. He has a very good turn of foot.”
High Official also showed a good turn of foot winning his debut on turf July 26 at Saratoga. Trainer Todd Pletcher was so impressed by how well High Official breezed on dirt that he tried him in the Grade 1 Hopeful, where he finished last of seven.
“Watching him breeze, I still can’t believe he ran as bad as he did in the Hopeful,” Pletcher said. “Hopefully, he regains his form from his debut.”
Despite its big field, there does not appear to be much pace in the Pilgrim. Pass On By, trained by Shug McGaughey, was a front-running winner of a 1 1/16-mile maiden race on Sept. 5 at Saratoga.
Let Em Know, who is drawn in post 12, appears to have tactical speed that he’ll likely have to use from his outside draw.
Miss Grillo
Trainer Kelsey Danner upset last year’s Grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes with Ground Support, a 12-1 shot who would go on run a respectable third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Saturday, Danner will seek a second straight Miss Grillo with Bittersweet Memory, a filly who may try to employ the same front-running tactics her elder stablemate did a year ago.
The Miss Grillo, which offers a fees-paid berth into the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf, drew eight but will only run with as many as six. Sunny Bird had ankle surgery on Wednesday, according to trainer Keri Brion. Quibbler, a maiden winner at Kentucky Downs, was to have run in the Jessamine Stakes on Friday at Keeneland, according to trainer Riley Mott.
Bittersweet Memory was defeated by Voyager in an Aug. 1 maiden race at Saratoga. Voyager came back to win the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes on Sept. 12. Bittersweet Memory, meanwhile, came back to win a maiden race in front-running fashion Aug. 28 at Saratoga.
Danner said she felt like Bittersweet Memory “got beat by two really nice horses” first time out.
Regarding her second start, Danner said “I thought it was much improved. [Luis] Saez really liked her that day. He said she had more in the tank. I don’t think she has to be on the lead, but I do think she will be forwardly placed.”
With Saez at Keeneland on Saturday, Manny Franco picks up the mount.
Chad Brown has won the Miss Grillo eight times. Four of those winners – Maram, Lady Eli, New Money Honey, and Hard to Justify – came back to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, a race Brown has won six times.
Saturday, Brown sends out Domestic Agenda, who was a bit green in her debut win, lugging in in upper stretch but recovering in time to run down Charlotte’s Beach.
“She was a bit green on the second turn, which I didn’t anticipate,” Brown said. “I did anticipate her winning. I don’t know why she got green on the second turn. I think she’s far better than her debut [speed] figure, unless I’m way wrong.”
Mark Casse sends out Golden Siren, a front-running winner of a maiden race Aug. 21 at Saratoga, and Bounce Back, a maiden who finished fourth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Voyager, in the Natalma.
Runaway Bride, fifth in the Natalma after a debut win sprinting, and Fiora, a debut winner sprinting Sept. 18 at Belmont, complete the Miss Grillo field.
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