Spring Mambo aims high in Miss Grillo

ELMONT, N.Y. - Spring Mambo walked out of the gate in her debut at Monmouth Park.

The way she finished encouraged owner-trainer Amy Tarrant to jump the maiden into the $75,000 Miss Grillo Stakes on Sunday at Belmont Park.

The Miss Grillo for 2-year-old fillies is one of five stakes on the card, but is the only one that is not a Grade 1. The 1 1/16-mile race on the turf attracted seven runners, including two maidens: Spring Mambo and Whirling Agatha.

Spring Mambo made a strong run to get second once she picked up the chase in the one-mile grass race on Aug. 31.

"In my opinion, she was by far the best horse in the race," Tarrant said. "This will be a tougher race, but I think she showed an awful lot in that race."

Stewart Elliott will ride.

Sea Chanter and Sherine both faced males last time in the With Anticipation Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the grass at Saratoga on Aug. 31.

After a stumbling start, Sherine set the pace and held on for third for trainer Anthony Dutrow.

Sea Chanter altered course in the stretch while finishing fifth.

"She had a bit of a rough trip, but part of it she created for herself," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "After that race, we're looking forward to getting her back against fillies.

"She's a filly we think has a lot of potential. She's still learning. She's an enthusiastic filly that we're trying to get to settle a little bit. I would expect her to run an improved race off her last race."

Catmosphere adds Lasix after winning her debut at seven furlongs here on Sept. 8. The $1 million yearling purchase by celebrity chef Bobby Flay and Jayeff B Stables is trained by Alan Goldberg.

Live Oak Plantation has an entry of Namaste's Wish and Remarkable Remy.

Namaste's Wish, trained by Bill Mott, won her maiden last time out at Saratoga in her turf debut, while Remarkable Remy most recently headed to Woodbine and finished fifth in the Grade 3 Natalma Stakes on the grass for John Kimmel.