Sail By holds off closers in Miss Grillo Stakes
ELMONT, N.Y. – As Junior Alvarado guided Sail By closer to the pacesetting Charlee O approaching the top of the stretch in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Miss Grillo Stakes, the jockey felt confident he had the leader measured.
It was just a matter of whether Sail By would have enough to fend off expected stretch challenges from race favorites McKulick and Kinchen. As it turned out, Sail By had plenty left and she went on to record a one-length victory at 12-1 in the Miss Grillo at Belmont Park.
Kinchen, a maiden and 7-2 second choice in the Miss Grillo, held off stablemate and 2-5 favorite McKulick by a head for second. Philly Eagles, Hail To, and Charlee O completed the order of finish.
It was the second win from four starts for Sail By, a daughter of Astern owned and bred by Jeff Treadway and trained by Leah Gyarmati. It more than likely earned Sail By a trip to California for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf to be run Nov. 5 at Del Mar.
“Anytime you’re even thinking of having that kind of opportunity it’s wonderful,” Gyarmati said. ”I have to talk to Jeff, I’m sure he’s game and wants to go. Obviously, that’s a conversation we have to have.”
Saturday, Sail By took up a stalking second, about 2 1/2 lengths behind Charlee O, who ran an opening half-mile in a posted 49.90 seconds and six furlongs in 1:14.46. Kinchen, who broke outward when the doors opened, and McKulick, who was forced out because of that and further out when Hail To also came out, were fourth and fifth early.
Alvarado said his filly relaxed well down the backstretch, giving him confidence he would have something left for the stretch.
“I knew I was going to have horse turning for home, I was just wondering how much horse would be coming hard after me,” Alvarado said. “When I turned for home and I asked her, I knew they were going to be in trouble because she was really coming home pretty quick.”
Sail By covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.21 and returned $26.60. She earned a 69 Beyer Speed Figure.
Gyarmati liked the fact Sail By had a horse to follow early.
“I think it helps back her off a little bit and gets her to relax,” Gyarmati said. “She’s a really smart filly and does whatever you ask her to do, but when you’re out there all by yourself and there’s a bunch of horses behind you it’s a little hard.”
Irad Ortiz Jr., the rider of McKulick, felt the start cost him any chance to win.
“I wished to be a little closer but I could not do anything,” he said. “I lost three or four lengths, and it cost me the race.”