Despite finishing a troubled fourth as the favorite Oct. 4 in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo at Belmont at the Big A, Arnmore Thoroughbreds and Even Keel Thoroughbreds' Gala Brand remains on target for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the chestnut Violence filly won on debut going 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 3 over the Mellon turf at Saratoga Race Course and followed with a victory against males in the G3 With Anticipation on Aug. 31 at the Spa. In the last out Miss Grillo, Gala Brand broke from post 7 and was last of 11 through the entire backstretch run. Although she was left with too much to do turning for home, she still managed to weave her way through traffic along the inside to finish fourth.
“I think that was a very unfortunate trip and post all the way around,” recalled Arnmore Thoroughbreds' CEO Megan Jones. “I don't think that race took anything away from her. We've got her back in Saratoga and she's doing well. I think we'll send her out to California for the Breeders' Cup. She deserves to be there as much as any other filly in the race. I wouldn't judge her based off her last race. She didn't really get a chance to run that day.”
Jones said the Miss Grillo was a beneficial learning experience for her talented filly.
“It was good for her to have to come inside of horses. She still did the best she could with that little bit of ground,” Jones said. “It is what it is. We had a wonderful summer with her up in Saratoga and going into the Breeders' Cup, I think she's quite live.”
Jones said Gala Brand has already taken the Arnmore Thoroughbreds partners on a wonderful ride.
“I'm just very grateful to my partners,” Jones said. “They always show up for me and it's lovely when that can be rewarded, especially with horses that don't always have things their way that they still run their race and come with a big run at the end. I have an incredible group of partners that support me each year, and it's nice to be able to reward them at Saratoga or the Breeders' Cup.”
The post Despite Off-The-Board Finish In Miss Grillo, Gala Brand Still Targeting BC Juvenile Fillies Turf appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
