Miss Grillo Stakes
Introduction 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''', 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. 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. In 2018 the event was upgraded back to Grade II.The event was run in two divisions in 1988.The distance of the event has been changed several times but since 2010 the event has been run over the current distance of  miles.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.
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 RefAt Aqueduct – '''Miss Grillo Stakes'''2023Hard to JustifyFlavien PratChad C. BrownWise Racing miles1:43.92$200,000II2022Pleasant PassageIrad Ortiz Jr.Claude R. McGaugheyEmory Hamilton miles1:45.25$200,000IIAt Belmont Park 2021Sail By Junior Alvarado Leah GyarmatiTreadway Racing Stable miles1:43.21$200,000II2020 Plum Ali Jose L. Ortiz Christophe ClementMichael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Bethlehem Stable miles1:42.03$145,500II2019SelflesslyJavier CastellanoChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables  miles1:42.11$200,000II2018Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownKlaravich Stables miles1:42.29$200,000II2017Significant FormIrad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownStephanie Seymour Brant miles1:44.58$200,000III2016New Money HoneyJavier CastellanoChad C. Brown e Five Racing Thoroughbreds miles1:41.41$200,000III2015Tin Type GalLuis SaezH. Graham MotionMy Meadowview Farm miles1:43.50$200,000III2014Lady EliIrad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownSheep Pond Partners miles1:43.50$200,000III2013Testa Rossi (FR)Jose LezcanoChad C. BrownJames Covello, Thomas Coleman & DMZ Racing Stable miles1:41.73 $200,000III2012Watsdachances (IRE)Javier CastellanoChad C. BrownMichael E. Kisber & Bradley Thoroughbreds miles1:47.90 $150,000III2011Pure GossipRyan CuratoloPhilip M. SerpeFlying Zee Stable miles1:47.71 $100,000III2010Winter MemoriesJose LezcanoJames J. TonerPhillips Racing Partnership miles1:45.69 $150,000III2009Dad's CrazyJulien R. LeparouxTodd A. PletcherSmarch Racing1 mile1:40.04 $141,000 Listed 2008Maram Jose LezcanoChad C. BrownKaren N. Woods miles1:46.12$164,200III2007§ Namaste's WishWilliam I. MottLive Oak Plantation miles 1:40.49 $81,900 Listed 2006ChestoriaEibar CoaBruce N. LevineE L R Corp miles1:50.82  $84,375 Listed 2005Wait A WhileJerry D. BaileyTodd A. PletcherArindel Farm miles1:52.87 $82,550Listed  2004Melhor AindaJose A. SantosRobert J. FrankelStud TNT miles1:51.28 $82,200 Listed 2003Please Take Me OutAaron GryderAlfredo CallejasRobert Perez miles1:50.75 $84,400Listed  At Aqueduct  2002FircroftJean-Luc SamynGeorge R. Arnold IIG. Watts Humphrey Jr. miles1:49.79 $84,000 Listed 2001RiskaverseRobbie DavisPatrick J. KellyFox Ridge Farm miles1:51.61 $86,700 Listed At Belmont Park2000RuffJohn R. VelazquezDavid G. DonkRobert Spiegel miles1:49.79$111,300III1999Wolf AlertJerry D. BaileyGary C. ContessaNedlaw Stable & William F. Coyro Jr. miles1:54.01 $111,000III1998Belle CherieJohn R. VelazquezPhilip G. JohnsonJeffrey Foong & Roy Jackson miles1:49.53 $112,500IIIAt Aqueduct  1997CompassionateRobbie DavisMark A. HennigEthel D. Jacobs miles1:53.13$114,500IIIAt Belmont Park1996Miss Huff n' PuffRichard MiglioreRichard A. Violette Jr.Ralph M. Evans miles1:41.47 $113,400IIIAt Aqueduct  1995Mountain AffairTodd KabelKathy PattonHarry T. Mangurian Jr. miles1:53.91 $115,600IIIAt Belmont Park1994Upper NooshEddie MaplePatrick J. KellyFox Ridge Farm  miles1:47.10 $81,626III1993Chelsey FlowerJorge VelasquezJose A. MartinClanni Gael Stable miles1:45.21 $124,200III1992MissymooiloveyouHerb McCauleyThomas M. WalshDan-dev Stable miles1:42.57 $100,000III1991Good MoodMike E. SmithRichard A. DeStasioPeter E. Blum miles1:42.60$131,200IIIAt Aqueduct  1990† PuranaHerb McCauleyPhilip A. GleavesStrauss Medina Farm miles1:51.40$93,300III1989SavinaJerry F. BelmonteWoodford C. StephensHenryk de Kwiatkowski miles1:56.20$132,200III1988MemoriesJean CruguetJohn M. VeitchDarby Dan Farm miles1:58.80$136,700IIDarby's DaughterCalvin H. BorelClarence E. PicouJames E. Cottrell1:59.20$123,0001987Betty LobeliaRuben HernandezH. Allen JerkensBohemia Stable miles1:55.00$94,050III  1986LovelierAngel Cordero Jr.D. Wayne LukasHarbor View Farm miles1:52.20$91,650III 1985Cadabra AbraJorge VelasquezDaniel PerlsweigJerry R. Pinkley miles1:55.40$87,750III1984EndearGregg McCarronClaiborne Farm miles1:55.00$86,550III1983HeartlightAngel Cordero Jr.Howard M. TesherRhonda Allen miles2:04.80$56,500III1982§ BemissedFrank Lovato Jr.Woodford C. StephensRyehill Farm (Jim & Eleanor Ryan) miles1:51.80$84,150III1981Baby DuckGregg McCarronBraulio BaezaRegal Oak Farm  miles1:51.40$84,450  1980Smilin' SeraJean-Luc SamynPhilip G. JohnsonRobert Kluener  miles1:51.40$55,000 '''''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
References