After working hard to post a debut win, Klaravich Stables' Domestic Agenda rather easily secured a spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T).
Off a half-length victory in her Sept. 4 debut at Saratoga Race Course, the daughter of American Pharoah was sent off as a 4-5 favorite in the $250,000 Miss Grillo Stakes (G2T) for 2-year-old fillies and responded with a convincing, last-to-first 4 1/2-length win on the stakes-packed Oct. 3 card at Belmont Park.
As part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In program, the victory in the 1 1/16-mile Miss Grillo on turf netted Domestic Agenda a free spot in the Oct. 30 Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland.
"If she comes out of it sound, that's what we're planning to do with her," trainer Chad Brown said about the Breeders' Cup after his 10th victory in the Miss Grillo. "It is nice to start off a filly like this 2-for-2. She's a horse who has her best days ahead of her. She's really bred to be better as an older horse. For her to do what she's doing as a juvenile is quite remarkable, actually."
Bounce Back (Hard Spun ) was second by 2 lengths over Golden Siren (Bolt d'Oro ).
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Domestic Agenda ($3.94) was bred by Morgan's Ford Farm in Virginia out of the Gun Runner mare Smuggle.
"(She was a) bit sluggish the first furlong, and I didn't really like my position on the backside, but I had a chance to tip her out and get her going early. Once she changed gears, she really made a good run," Prat said.
The final time was 1:41.34 on the firm outer turf.
She was bought for $290,000 at the 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from Greenfield Farms, as agent for Morgan's Ford.
Video: Miss Grillo S. (G2T)
Hot Prospect Brickyard Belle takes Matron
Brickyard Belle tipped out and closed fastest in the stretch to collar front-running Harper's Corner in the final few strides and prevail in the $200,000 Matron Stakes (G3T) for 2-year-old fillies on Belmont's inner turf.
Owned by Brickyard Belle Racing, Beggs and Flowers, and Briles Family Stable, the Yaupon filly was coming off a debut win at Saratoga Race Course for trainer Miguel Clement, which earned her BloodHorse Maiden Watch Hot Prospect honors.
The favorite ($4.38) rallied from seventh in the field of eight under Manny Franco and was timed in 1:08.26 for the 6 furlongs on firm turf.
"She was very impressive today. Not many fillies can make up 6 or 7 lengths in the stretch like she did. I'm just very thankful to the connections for sending her our way. To be honest, a lot of credit needs to be given to Case Clay. He picked her out at the sale, and he was bold enough to make the partnership take place. In Case we trust," Clement said.
Charles Biggs' stakes-winning Harper's Corner (Speaker's Corner ), who was second in the Spinaway Stakes (G1) for trainer Cathal Lynch, settled for runner-up honors in her turf debut. StarLadies Racing, West Paces Racing, Titletown Racing Stables, and U Racing Stables' More Champagne (Golden Pal ) was third.
Clement said he might run Brickyard Belle next in the Oct. 30 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T).
"Strongly. Without a doubt," he said when asked if he was considering entering her in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. "I've had worse ideas."
Consignor Julie Davies sold Brickyard Belle for $600,000 at this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale to Clay. The filly was bred by Hall Racing out of the More Than Ready winner Ready to Unleash, who was represented by another graded winner Saturday in Woodford Stakes (G2T) victor Joe Shiesty (Air Force Blue).
