It’s been 13 years since Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) but he might have as good a chance as any of adding another trophy to his mantle if either Triple Espresso or Agate Road steps up with a victory in the Oct. 4 $200,000 Pilgrim Stakes (G2T) at Belmont at the Big A.
The 1 1/16-mile Pilgrim, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Win and You’re In race for the Juvenile Turf, drew a lightly-raced field of nine for its 45th edition. Pletcher is no stranger to the Pilgrim, having won it the last two years with Major Dude and Annapolis , respectively.
Although Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Triple Espresso is a maiden winner, his sole start resulted in an impressive 12th to second rally in the Sept. 9 Kitten’s Joy Stakes at Colonial Downs. His belated kick fell just 1 1/4 lengths short of catching the highly-regarded Tok Tok .
The son of Omaha Beach should get the same amount, if not more pace, to run at this time and he will just need a clean trip to score a maiden-breaking win in graded company. He will be ridden back by Jose Ortiz on Saturday.
Triple Espresso’s stablemate, the regally-bred Agate Road, enters off a neck win against maiden company Sept. 2 at Saratoga. Like Triple Espresso, Agate Road handled the two turn distance with no issues, closing from far off the pace to edge his rivals in the photo. In his debut a month earlier, he was defeated a nose in a mile off-the-turf maiden special weight.
“He got a very wide trip (in his maiden win), which maybe turned out to be a blessing with all that was going on at the eighth pole,” Pletcher said of Agate Road. “Turning for home, I thought he had way too much to do, and he really kicked in late. He’s had a little bit of experience, so hopefully that pays dividends.”
Agate Road is produced from the grade 1-winning mare Yellow Agate and is by top stallion Quality Road . Repole Stables and St. Elias Stables signed the ticket on the colt for $650,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Set out to challenge the Pletcher duo is the graded stakes-placed Spirit Prince . The Christophe Clement trainee was beaten a half-length by Sapling Stakes victor Noted in his Saratoga debut before trying stakes company in the Aug. 31 With Anticipation Stakes (G2T). Racing with blinkers on for the first time, the Cairo Prince colt finished a solid third.
Entries: Pilgrim S. (G2T)
Belmont at the Big A, Wednesday, October 04, 2023, Race 7
- Grade II
- 1 1/16m
- Outer turf
- $200,000
- 2 yo
- 4:14 PM (local)
Gala Brand Looms Large in Miss Grillo
The female counterpart to the Pilgrim, the $200,000 Miss Grillo Stakes (G2T), also offers an automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup by way of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T). Arguably the likely star of the 1 1/16 mile Miss Grillo is Armore Thoroughbreds and Even Keel Thoroughbreds’ Gala Brand .
Gala Brand takes the With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga
The 2-year-old Violence filly aced her Saratoga debut Aug. 3 before delivering a stellar performance to defeat the boys in the With Anticipation (G3T). Back against fillies in here, the Bill Mott trainee looms tall against a field of mainly last-out maiden special weight winners.
Jockey Jose Ortiz will be aboard Gala Brand.
Gold Lightning , Memorialize , and Camila T are among the most impressive maiden scorers to poise a threat to Gala Brand on Saturday.
Entries: Miss Grillo S. (G2T)
Belmont at the Big A, Wednesday, October 04, 2023, Race 5
- Grade IIT
- 1 1/16m
- Turf
- $200,000
- 2 yo Fillies
- 3:10 PM (local)
