Seas Part for Scythian En Route to Miss Grillo Victory

Lawrence Goichman homebred Scythian must have felt a little like Moses entering the stretch of the $200,000 Miss Grillo Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct Racetrack Oct. 6 when the seas suddenly parted. She took advantage in the turf test for juvenile fillies and powered home to victory to pull off the 11-1 upset for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. The assist came from pacesetting Marvelous Madison, who set fractions of :23.26 and :48.71 after clearing from post 12. Junior Alvarado aboard Scythian was intent on keeping his perfect stalking spot on the rail when he noticed something amiss with the pacesetter entering the far turn. "It looked like (Marvelous Madison) wanted to try and get out," Alvarado said. "I didn't want to move too early because I knew she could take us out." Alvarado's analysis came true outside the quarter pole. Despite jockey Manny Franco's efforts to stay on course, Marvelous Madison bolted and took Lavender Disaster and Grace and Grit with her. Scythian took advantage and separated herself from the field, never in danger while crossing the wire 2 1/2 lengths ahead. She completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.68 on firm turf. Virgin Colada rallied from the back to finish second and Correto, who inherited second after the incident, held for third. Grace and Grit, Marvelous Madison, and Lavender Disaster finished 10th, 11th, and 12th, respectively. A stewards' inquiry was held with no changes made. "What a disaster really," said Chad Brown, trainer of Marvelous Madison, Lavender Disaster, and runner-up Virgin Colada. "I can't believe she did that. … (Lavender Disaster) looked like a winner every step of the way." Scythian paid $24.20 for her win, a number that surprised Alvarado. The filly entered off a New York-bred maiden victory against the boys at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 30. "She proved she's one of the best," Alvarado said. Now Scythian has the opportunity to prove she is the best juvenile filly on turf, as the victory earned her an automatic fees-paid berth to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1T) at Del Mar Nov. 2 thanks to the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. A homebred for Goichman, Scythian is the second graded stakes winner for Coolmore's first-crop stallion Tiz the Law. Both victories came this weekend as Non Compliant scored in the Oak Leaf Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park Oct. 6. The Belmont Stakes (G1) winner stood the 2024 season at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky. for a fee of $20,000. Abientot Storms from behind to win Matron Two-year-old turf-sprinting fillies also had a chance at graded glory Sunday in the $175,000 Matron Stakes (G3T), the stage for an impressive late kick by Tracy Farmer's Abientot. Second-last early behind fractions of :21.58 and :44.48, jockey Dylan Davis got the Mark Casse-trained daughter of Not This Time rolling in the center of the course. Civetta, who raced mid-pack early, was gradually grinding down Yougottahavehope to take the lead just before the wire, but Davis had enough gas to blow by in time by a neck. "I knew how much I had underneath me and the timing of the ride—I knew to make my run 'now,'" Davis said. "The outside move and when I made it was most critical." Abientot completed six furlongs in 1:08.31 and paid $12.20 to win. Both Abientot and runner-up Civetta exited the Sept. 8 Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs, finishing third and fourth, respectively. Bred in Kentucky by Killora Stud, she was purchased by Farmer for $210,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Abientot is now 2-0-1 from five starts for earnings of $255,400.