Significant Form will try to live up to name in Miss Grillo

ELMONT, N.Y. – Arguably the most impressive winner trainer Chad Brown sent out at Saratoga this summer was the one that didn’t count.

Significant Form overcame significant trouble – most of which she caused herself – to finish first by 2 1/4 lengths in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race on Aug. 27. Significant Form, under Irad Ortiz Jr., came over on Amity and then stumbled going into the first turn. She was rightly disqualified by the stewards and placed seventh.

Treating the performance as if she had won, trainer Chad Brown has entered her in Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont Park, hoping the filly can make amends and earn a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 3.

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The Miss Grillo is not a designated Win and You’re In race for the Juvenile Fillies Turf, but Brown has used the race successfully in the past to win the Breeders’ Cup three times. Brown has won four of the last five runnings of the Miss Grillo and five overall. Three of those winners – New Money Honey (2016), Lady Eli (2014) and Maram (2008) – also won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Brown believes Significant Form spooked from something she saw to her outside in her debut, creating her problems.

“It was a situation where she came in on another horse and created a dangerous situation there for a moment for another horse and rider,” Brown said. “She ran a remarkable race considering she went to her knees in the first turn. She’s quite a talent.”

Significant Form, who will once again by ridden by Ortiz, will face eight rivals in the 1 1/16-mile Miss Grillo including Africa, a filly who will be making her first start for Brown after going 1 for 3 in France.

“She continues to improve each week,” Brown said. “I wish I had a little more time with her.”

The horse to beat in the Miss Grillo is Orbolution, a daughter of Orb, who went 2 for 2 going 1 1/16 miles on turf at Saratoga including a dominant 4 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 P.G. Johnson Stakes. In both races, Orbolution “displayed a good turn of foot despite sitting in behind slow fractions,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “I think she should be adaptable to any pace scenario.”

The Miss Grillo goes as race 8 on a nine-race program that also includes the $200,000 Temperence Hill for older horses on dirt at 1 5/8 miles.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Orbolution, by Orb
Last 3 Beyers: 73-71-38

◗ Has gone 2 for 2 since getting on turf and stretching out in distance.

◗ Has adapted to slow pace scenarios in both of those wins, and she may deal with a slow pace again on Sunday.

Significant Form, by Creative Cause
Beyer: 70

◗ Interfered with another horse and stumbled badly when guided to inside from outside post in Saratoga debut and wound up finishing first by 2 1/4 lengths.

◗ Easily handled stablemate Africa in a five-furlong move timed in 59.70 on Sunday over the Belmont turf course.

Best Performance, by Broken Vow
Last 3 Beyers: 66-66-69

◗ Ran a solid second in Kentucky Juvenile Fillies Turf at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 6 over soft ground.

“I didn’t think she really favored the softer turf,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “She was good enough to run a decent race. I always thought she trained better on firm turf.”