Miss Grillo lures European trio

ELMONT, N.Y. – There were no European shippers for Saturday’s Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, but three horses who have been racing exclusively in Europe will be running in Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont Park.

The Miss Grillo, for 2-year-old fillies on turf, is one of four stakes on Sunday’s card. The others are the $200,000 Temperence Hill Invitational at 1 5/8 miles on dirt, the $150,000 Bertram Bongard for New York-bred juvenile colts and geldings on dirt, and the $150,000 Joseph A. Gimma for New York-bred juvenile fillies on dirt.

Chad Brown has two of the European imports in Create a Dream and Dancing Waves, who both won their maidens before coming to the U.S. this summer.

The other European, Rymska, is a French-bred daughter of La Havre who went 2 for 3 in France, including winning a listed stakes on Sept. 3. She is trained by Pia Brandt for owner Alain Jathiere.

On Thursday, Rymska blew out a quarter-mile over the Belmont turf course, though no official time was given.

“Beautiful, no problem, she went real nice,” said Carl Brandt, who is the assistant trainer to his wife and was aboard the filly on Thursday.

Rymska is coming off a win going a mile in France. The Miss Grillo is run at 1 1/16 miles.

“She might not be as fast as the American horses, but she stays, and she’s better on the grass, and she won on soft last time,” said Carl Brandt.

Florent Geroux is in to ride Rymska, who could stay in the U.S. depending on how she performs Sunday.

Brown has won the Miss Grillo four times, and two of those winners, Maram and Lady Eli, went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Following a maiden win at Ascot in April, Create a Dream finished fourth, beaten just a length, in the Group 3 Albany there. She was trained by Wesley Ward for those two starts before being transferred to Brown.

Dancing Waves won a maiden race in Ireland. Brown also sends out the maiden New Money Honey.

Coasted, the convincing winner of the P.G. Johnson at Saratoga, could be the horse to beat in the Miss Grillo. Others entered include Chubby Star and Joust.