Brown Fillies Can’t ‘Miss’

Trainer Chad Brown will have two chances to continue his assault on the GIII Miss Grillo S. at Belmont Park Sunday.

European invader Llanita (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire})–winless in three career starts for breeder Ecurie La Vallee Martigny and trainer Stephane Wattel–was purchased privately by Martin Schwartz following a runner-up effort in the seven-furlong Prix Six Perfections S. at Deauville Aug. 1. The 5-2 morning-line favorite gets Lasix for the first time in her U.S. debut. Brown will also saddle Breakfast Time (Kitten’s Joy), fourth behind Tin Type Gal (Tapit) in her grassy Saratoga unveiling Aug. 23.

“She’s a nice filly, a real sweet-looking, athletic type [that] seems to have a decent turn of foot,” Brown said of the former. “She’s breezed twice for us and she seems to be improving. I wish we had her longer, but based on what I saw in her latest breeze, she deserves a shot in the race.”

Brown has won this race the past three years with Watsdachances (Ire) (Diamond Green {Fr}); Testa Rossi (Fr) (Dr Fong); and Lady Eli (Divine Park). He also won it with Maram (Sahm) in 2008. Maram and Ladi Eli, of course, went on to victories on the big stage in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Team Valor International and Gary Barber’s Belvoir Bay (GB) (Equilano {Fr}), a handicap winner at Goodwood July 31, also makes the trip across the pond. She was last seen finishing fourth in Goodwood’s seven-furlong G3 Prestige S. Aug. 29. Richard Hannon Jr. trains.

Thrilled (Uncle Mo), a game debut winner at the Spa Aug. 9, was a well-beaten second in a soggy renewal of the P.G. Johnson Sept. 3. “She came out of the [last] race in good form,” trainer Todd Pletcher’s assistant Byron Hughes said. “She looks good, very fit and has been training very well. We hope for a big effort.”