Miss Grillo Stakes Explained

Surface:	Turf
Class:	Grade II
Horse Race:	Miss Grillo Stakes
Location:	Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated:	1980 (at Aqueduct Racetrack)
Race Type:	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website:	NYRA
Distance:	miles
Track:	Left-handed
Qualification:	Two-year-old fillies
Weight:	122 lbs with allowances
Purse:	US$200,000 (2021)

The Miss Grillo Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds filles over a distance of miles on the turf track scheduled annually in late September at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $200,000.

History

The event was named for the Argentine bred filly Miss Grillo,^[1] a record breaking stakes winner in the 1940s who won the Diana Handicap twice.

The event was inaugurated on 29 October 1980 at Aqueduct Racetrack and was run over the mile distance with Robert Kluener's Smilin' Sera winning the event by one length over De La Rose in a time of 1:51. De La Rose the following year would be crowned the US Champion Female Turf Horse.

In 1982 the event was classified as Grade III, upgraded to Grade II in 1988 and was downgraded to Grade III the following year.^[2] From 2001 - 2007 the race was not graded as in 2009 when the event was moved off the turf track due to the inclement weather and held over a shorter one mile distance.^[3] In 2018 the event was upgraded back to Grade II.^[2]

The event was run in two divisions in 1988.^[4]

The distance of the event has been changed several times but since 2010 the event has been run over the current distance of miles.^[2]

The race was part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series from 2008 to 2010, with the winner automatically qualifying for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

In 2022 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.^[5]

Records

Speed record:

• miles: 1:40.49 – Namaste's Wish (2007)
• miles: 1:49.53 – Belle Cherie (1998)

Margins:

• 8 lengths – Melhor Ainda (2004)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 – Fox Ridge Farm (1994, 2001)
• 2 – Klaravich Stables (2018, 2019)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 3 – Jose Lezcano (2008, 2010, 2013)
• 3 – Javier Castellano (2012, 2016, 2019)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 9 – Chad C. Brown (2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023)

Winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
At Aqueduct  - Miss Grillo Stakes
align=center	2024	Scythian	Junior Alvarado	William I. Mott	Lawrence Goichman	align=center	miles	align=center	1:42.68	align=center	$200,000	align=center	II	^[6]
align=center	2023	Hard to Justify	Flavien Prat	Chad C. Brown	Wise Racing	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.92	align=center	$200,000	align=center	II	^[7]
align=center	2022	Pleasant Passage	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Claude R. McGaughey	Emory Hamilton	align=center	miles	align=center	1:45.25	align=center	$200,000	align=center	II	^[8]
At Belmont Park
align=center	2021	Sail By		Leah Gyarmati	Treadway Racing Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.21	align=center	$200,000	align=center	II	^[9]
align=center	2020	Plum Ali		Christophe Clement	Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Bethlehem Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	1:42.03	align=center	$145,500	align=center	II	^[10]
align=center	2019	Selflessly	Javier Castellano	Chad C. Brown		align=center	miles	align=center	1:42.11	align=center	$200,000	align=center	II	^[11]
align=center	2018		Irad Ortiz Jr.	Chad C. Brown	Klaravich Stables	align=center	miles	align=center	1:42.29	align=center	$200,000	align=center	II	^[12]
align=center	2017	Significant Form	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Chad C. Brown	Stephanie Seymour Brant	align=center	miles	align=center	1:44.58	align=center	$200,000	align=center	III	^[13]
align=center	2016	New Money Honey	Javier Castellano	Chad C. Brown	e Five Racing Thoroughbreds	align=center	miles	align=center	1:41.41	align=center	$200,000	align=center	III	^[14]
align=center	2015	Tin Type Gal	Luis Saez	H. Graham Motion	My Meadowview Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.50	align=center	$200,000	align=center	III	^[15]
align=center	2014	Lady Eli	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Chad C. Brown	Sheep Pond Partners	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.50	align=center	$200,000	align=center	III	^[16]
align=center	2013	Testa Rossi (FR)	Jose Lezcano	Chad C. Brown	James Covello, Thomas Coleman & DMZ Racing Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	1:41.73	align=center	$200,000	align=center	III	^[17]
align=center	2012	Watsdachances (IRE)	Javier Castellano	Chad C. Brown	Michael E. Kisber & Bradley Thoroughbreds	align=center	miles	align=center	1:47.90	align=center	$150,000	align=center	III	^[18]
align=center	2011	Pure Gossip	Ryan Curatolo	Philip M. Serpe	Flying Zee Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	1:47.71	align=center	$100,000	align=center	III	^[19]
align=center	2010	Winter Memories	Jose Lezcano	James J. Toner	Phillips Racing Partnership	align=center	miles	align=center	1:45.69	align=center	$150,000	align=center	III	^[20]
align=center	2009	Dad's Crazy	Julien R. Leparoux	Todd A. Pletcher	Smarch Racing	align=center	1 mile	align=center	1:40.04	align=center	$141,000	align=center	Listed	^[21]
align=center	2008		Jose Lezcano	Chad C. Brown	Karen N. Woods	align=center	miles	align=center	1:46.12	align=center	$164,200	align=center	III	^[22]
align=center	2007	§ Namaste's Wish		William I. Mott	Live Oak Plantation	align=center	miles	align=center	1:40.49	align=center	$81,900	align=center	Listed	^[23]
align=center	2006	Chestoria	Eibar Coa	Bruce N. Levine	E L R Corp	align=center	miles	align=center	1:50.82	align=center	$84,375	align=center	Listed	^[24]
align=center	2005	Wait A While	Jerry D. Bailey	Todd A. Pletcher	Arindel Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	1:52.87	align=center	$82,550	align=center	Listed	^[25]
align=center	2004	Melhor Ainda	Jose A. Santos	Robert J. Frankel	Stud TNT	align=center	miles	align=center	1:51.28	align=center	$82,200	align=center	Listed	^[26]
align=center	2003	Please Take Me Out	Aaron Gryder	Alfredo Callejas	Robert Perez	align=center	miles	align=center	1:50.75	align=center	$84,400	align=center	Listed	^[27]
At Aqueduct
align=center	2002	Fircroft	Jean-Luc Samyn	George R. Arnold II	G. Watts Humphrey Jr.	align=center	miles	align=center	1:49.79	align=center	$84,000	align=center	Listed	^[28]
align=center	2001	Riskaverse	Robbie Davis	Patrick J. Kelly	Fox Ridge Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	1:51.61	align=center	$86,700	align=center	Listed	^[29]
At Belmont Park
align=center	2000	Ruff	John R. Velazquez	David G. Donk	Robert Spiegel	align=center	miles	align=center	1:49.79	align=center	$111,300	align=center	III	^[30]
align=center	1999	Wolf Alert	Jerry D. Bailey	Gary C. Contessa	Nedlaw Stable & William F. Coyro Jr.	align=center	miles	align=center	1:54.01	align=center	$111,000	align=center	III	^[31]
align=center	1998	Belle Cherie	John R. Velazquez	Philip G. Johnson	Jeffrey Foong & Roy Jackson	align=center	miles	align=center	1:49.53	align=center	$112,500	align=center	III	^[32]
At Aqueduct
align=center	1997	Compassionate	Robbie Davis	Mark A. Hennig	Ethel D. Jacobs	align=center	miles	align=center	1:53.13	align=center	$114,500	align=center	III	^[33]
At Belmont Park
align=center	1996	Miss Huff n' Puff	Richard Migliore	Richard A. Violette Jr.	Ralph M. Evans	align=center	miles	align=center	1:41.47	align=center	$113,400	align=center	III	^[34]
At Aqueduct
align=center	1995	Mountain Affair	Todd Kabel	Kathy Patton	Harry T. Mangurian Jr.	align=center	miles	align=center	1:53.91	align=center	$115,600	align=center	III	^[35]
At Belmont Park
align=center	1994	Upper Noosh	Eddie Maple	Patrick J. Kelly	Fox Ridge Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	1:47.10	align=center	$81,626	align=center	III	^[36]
align=center	1993	Chelsey Flower	Jorge Velasquez	Jose A. Martin	Clanni Gael Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	1:45.21	align=center	$124,200	align=center	III	^[37]
align=center	1992	Missymooiloveyou	Herb McCauley	Thomas M. Walsh	Dan-dev Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	1:42.57	align=center	$100,000	align=center	III	^[38]
align=center	1991	Good Mood	Mike E. Smith	Richard A. DeStasio	Peter E. Blum	align=center	miles	align=center	1:42.60	align=center	$131,200	align=center	III	^[39]
At Aqueduct
align=center	1990	† Purana	Herb McCauley	Philip A. Gleaves	Strauss Medina Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	1:51.40	align=center	$93,300	align=center	III	^[40]
align=center	1989	Savina	Jerry F. Belmonte	Woodford C. Stephens	Henryk de Kwiatkowski	align=center	miles	align=center	1:56.20	align=center	$132,200	align=center	III	^[41]
align=center rowspan=2	1988	Memories	Jean Cruguet	John M. Veitch	Darby Dan Farm	align=center rowspan=2	miles	align=center	1:58.80	align=center	$136,700	align=center rowspan=2	II	^[42]
Darby's Daughter	Calvin H. Borel	Clarence E. Picou	James E. Cottrell	align=center	1:59.20	align=center	$123,000	^[43]
align=center	1987	Betty Lobelia	Ruben Hernandez	H. Allen Jerkens	Bohemia Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	1:55.00	align=center	$94,050	align=center	III	^[44]
align=center	1986	Lovelier	Angel Cordero Jr.	D. Wayne Lukas	Harbor View Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	1:52.20	align=center	$91,650	align=center	III	^[45]
align=center	1985	Cadabra Abra	Jorge Velasquez	Daniel Perlsweig	Jerry R. Pinkley	align=center	miles	align=center	1:55.40	align=center	$87,750	align=center	III	^[46]
align=center	1984	Endear	Gregg McCarron		Claiborne Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	1:55.00	align=center	$86,550	align=center	III	^[47]
align=center	1983	Heartlight	Angel Cordero Jr.	Howard M. Tesher	Rhonda Allen	align=center	miles	align=center	2:04.80	align=center	$56,500	align=center	III	^[48]
align=center	1982	§ Bemissed	Frank Lovato Jr.	Woodford C. Stephens	Ryehill Farm (Jim & Eleanor Ryan)	align=center	miles	align=center	1:51.80	align=center	$84,150	align=center	III	^[49]
align=center	1981	Baby Duck	Gregg McCarron	Braulio Baeza	Regal Oak Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	1:51.40	align=center	$84,450	align=center		^[50]
align=center	1980	Smilin' Sera	Jean-Luc Samyn	Philip G. Johnson	Robert Kluener	align=center	miles	align=center	1:51.40	align=center	$55,000	align=center		^[51]

Legend:

Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
† In the 1990 running, Seewillo was first past the post but was disqualified for interference in the straight and Purana was declared the winner.

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

Notes and References

1. Web site: MISS GRILLO (ARG) ch. M, 1942 – 43 Starts, 10 Wins, 7 Places, 6 Shows Career Earnings: $250,930 . Thoroughbred Pedigree Online . 2020 . 12 September 2020.
2. Web site: Miss Grillo Stakes (Gr. 2) . Equibase . 2020 . 12 September 2020.
3. Web site: MISS GRILLO STAKES – MULTIPLE TRACKS . 2020 . 12 September 2020.
4. Web site: MISS GRILLO STAKES (2ND. DIV.) – BELMONT PARK, NY . Thoroughbred Pedigree Online . 2020 . 12 September 2020.
5. Web site: Ehalt . Bob . NYRA Shifts Belmont Fall Meet to Aqueduct Change will allow construction of infield tunnel, redevelopment plan to begin. . 28 July 2022 . 22 August 2022.
6. Web site: 2024 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8) . Equibase . 6 October 2024 . 8 October 2024.
7. Web site: 2023 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5) . Equibase . 4 October 2023 . 5 October 2023.
8. Web site: 2022 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8) . Equibase . 1 October 2022 . 2 October 2022.
9. Web site: 2021 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 2 - (race 4) . Equibase . 2 October 2021.
10. Web site: 2020 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7) . Equibase . 4 October 2020 . 5 October 2020.
11. Web site: 2019 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8) . Equibase . 29 September 2019 . 11 September 2020.
12. Web site: 2018 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9) . Equibase . 30 September 2018 . 11 September 2020.
13. Web site: 2017 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 1 October 2017 . 11 September 2020.
14. Web site: 2016 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 5) . Equibase . 2 October 2016 . 11 September 2020.
15. Web site: 2015 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 27 September 2015 . 11 September 2020.
16. Web site: 2014 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7) . Equibase . 28 September 2014 . 11 September 2020.
17. Web site: 2013 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10) . Equibase . 6 October 2013 . 11 September 2020.
18. Web site: 2012 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 8 October 2012 . 11 September 2020.
19. Web site: 2011 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 2 October 2011 . 11 September 2020.
20. Web site: 2010 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 3 October 2010 . 11 September 2020.
21. Web site: 2009 Miss Grillo Stakes Listed - (race 6) . Equibase . 4 October 2009 . 11 September 2020.
22. Web site: 2008 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7) . Equibase . 1 October 2008 . 11 September 2020.
23. Web site: 2007 Miss Grillo Stakes Listed - (race 3) . Equibase . 30 September 2007 . 11 September 2020.
24. Web site: 2006 Miss Grillo Stakes Listed - (race 6) . Equibase . 22 October 2006 . 11 September 2020.
25. Web site: 2005 Miss Grillo Stakes Listed - (race 6) . Equibase . 23 October 2005 . 11 September 2020.
26. Web site: 2004 Miss Grillo Stakes Listed - (race 7) . Equibase . 24 October 2004 . 11 September 2020.
27. Web site: 2003 Miss Grillo Stakes Listed - (race 8) . Equibase . 26 October 2003 . 11 September 2020.
28. Web site: 2002 Miss Grillo Stakes Listed - (race 6) . Equibase . 27 October 2002 . 11 September 2020.
29. Web site: 2001 Miss Grillo Stakes Listed - (race 9) . Equibase . 4 November 2001 . 11 September 2020.
30. Web site: 2000 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7) . Equibase . 22 October 2000 . 11 September 2020.
31. Web site: 1999 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7) . Equibase . 24 October 1999 . 11 September 2020.
32. Web site: 1998 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 25 October 1998 . 11 September 2020.
33. Web site: 1997 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 29 October 1997 . 11 September 2020.
34. Web site: 1996 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 20 October 1996 . 11 September 2020.
35. Web site: 1995 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 7 November 1995 . 11 September 2020.
36. Web site: 1994 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 25 September 1994 . 11 September 2020.
37. Web site: 1993 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7) . Equibase . 2 October 1993 . 11 September 2020.
38. Web site: 1992 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 1 October 1992 . 11 September 2020.
39. Web site: 1991 Miss Grillo Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 3 October 1991 . 11 September 2020.
40. News: Purana wins; Seewillo is disqualified (1990 Miss Grillo Stakes – race 8: held 1 November 1990) . Sun-Sentinel Wire Services . South Florida Sun Sentinel. 2 November 1990 . 11 September 2020 . 43 .
41. News: Purana wins; Seewillo is disqualified (1989 Miss Grillo Stakes – race 8: held 4 November 1989) . . . 5 November 1989 . 11 September 2020 . 61 .
42. News: Aqueduct Racing (1988 Miss Grillo Stakes Division 1 – race 5: held 5 November 1988) . . Democrat and Chronicle. 6 November 1988 . 11 September 2020 . 11 .
43. News: Aqueduct Racing (1988 Miss Grillo Stakes Division 2 – race 8: held 5 November 1988) . . Camden Courier-Post. 6 November 1988 . 11 September 2020 . 93 .
44. News: Betty Lobelia nabs Miss Grillo (1987 Miss Grillo Stakes – race 8: held 1 November 1987) . . . 2 November 1987 . 11 September 2020 . 41 .
45. News: Cordero, horse defeat elements (1986 Miss Grillo Stakes – race 8: held 8 November 1986) . . . 9 November 1986 . 11 September 2020 . 13 .
46. News: Cadabra Abra wins Miss Grillo (1985 Miss Grillo Stakes – race 8: held 10 November 1985) . . . 11 November 1985 . 11 September 2020 . 10 .
47. News: Endear wins Aqueduct's Miss Grillo (1984 Miss Grillo Stakes – race 8: held 28 October 1984) . . . 29 October 1984 . 11 September 2020 . 60 .
48. News: Cordero rides Heartlight to easy win in Miss Grillo (1983 Miss Grillo Stakes – race 8: held 23 October 1983) . . 24 October 1983 . 11 September 2020 . 253 . Joe . O'Day .
49. News: Cryptic nosed by Bemissed in Miss Grillo duel (1982 Miss Grillo Stakes – race 8: held 23 October 1982) . . 24 October 1982 . 11 September 2020 . 109 . Joe . O'Day .
50. News: Baby Duck captures Miss Grillo Stakes on grass at Aqueduct (1981 Miss Grillo Stakes – race 8: held 22 October 1981) . . . 23 October 1981 . 11 September 2020 . 19 .
51. News: Smilin' Sera wins Miss Grillo Stakes (1980 Miss Grillo Stakes – race 8: held 29 October 1980) . . . 30 October 1980 . 11 September 2020 . 54 .