One of the few fillies in Argentine racing history to complete the Derby/Oaks double of the Gran Premio Nacional and the Gran Premio Selección, Miss Grillo successfully transitioned to North American racing following her importation. Widely known and admired for her toughness, durability and stamina, Miss Grillo took on males as readily as females and set a new world record for 2½ miles on dirt. She was not a great success during her own broodmare career, but several daughters have bred on.
Race record
Race record 54-16-10-7, US$250,930 plus 185,800 Argentine pesos
1945:
1946:
1947:
1948:
1949:
As an individual
A chestnut mare, Miss Grillo was tall and leggy with a deep girth and an excellent shoulder. She usually won her races with a sustained closing run from well off the pace.
As a producer
Miss Grillo produced 11 named foals. Eight started and five won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Miss Grillo was bred by Haras San Ignacio and owned by Caballeriza El Grillo, which purchased her for just 6,000 Argentine pesos as a yearling. In the United States, Miss Grillo was owned by Mill River Stable and trained by Horatio Luro. After the birth of her first foal, Miss Grillo passed to the ownership of Shawnee Farm and remained in the farm's broodmare band throughout her producing career. She was last reported as barren in 1964.
Pedigree notes
Miss Grillo is outcrossed within five generations. Her dam Cedulilla is a winning daughter of 1915 Polla de Potrancos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas) winner Picacero out of Consulta, by 1909 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas) winner Verdun. The next dam in the tail-female line, Carmine (by dual English Classic winner Ladas) was exported from England to Argentina in 1910.
Fun facts
Last updated: August 14, 2020
Race record
Race record 54-16-10-7, US$250,930 plus 185,800 Argentine pesos
1945:
- Won Gran Premio Nacional (ARG, 2500mD, Palermo)
- Won Gran Premio Selección (ARG, 2200mD, Palermo)
- Won Polla de Potrancas de La Plata (ARG, La Plata)
- Won Premio General Las Heras (ARG)
- Won Premio E. Ramirez (ARG)
1946:
- Won Exterminator Handicap (USA, 16f+70yD, Pimlico)
- Won Diana Handicap (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Pimlico Cup Handicap (USA, 20FD, Pimlico)
1947:
- Won Pimlico Cup Handicap (USA, 20FD, Pimlico)
- Won Black Helen Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Won Diana Handicap (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Governor Bowie Handicap (USA, 13FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Beldame Handicap (second division) (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Top Flight Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Exterminator Handicap (USA, 16.5FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Gallant Fox Handicap (USA, 13FD, Jamaica)
1948:
- Won New Castle Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Delaware)
- Won New York Handicap (USA, 18FD, Belmont)
- Won Pimlico Cup (USA, 20FD, Pimlico; new world record 4:14-3/5)
- 2nd Saratoga Cup (USA, 14FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Diana Handicap (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Santa Margarita Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Exterminator Handicap (USA, 16.5FD, Pimlico)
1949:
- Won San Juan Capistrano Handicap (USA, 12FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Santa Anita Handicap (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita)
As an individual
A chestnut mare, Miss Grillo was tall and leggy with a deep girth and an excellent shoulder. She usually won her races with a sustained closing run from well off the pace.
As a producer
Miss Grillo produced 11 named foals. Eight started and five won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Meadow (1951, by Bull Lea) produced stakes winner Calgary Brook (by Tom Fool). She is the second dam of four stakes winners including Group 3-placed multiple English stakes winner Hughes Next.
- Meadow Music (1956, by Tom Fool) was a minor winner at 3 in Ireland. She produced 1965 Irish Sweeps Derby winner Meadow Court (by Court Harwell), who also won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and ran second to the immortal Sea-Bird in the 1965 Derby Stakes. In addition, Meadow Music produced Irish stakes winner Rare Music (by Rarity). Meadow Music is the second dam of 1984 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Charleston Rag, English Group 2 winner Kesar Queen and Group 1-placed stakes winner Sparrow's Air. She is also the third dam of seven stakes winners including 1984 Norwegian champion 3-year-old male and Norsk Derby (NOR-G1) winner Winning Flush, 1986 Hollywood Derby (USA-G1) winner Spellbound, English Group 2 winner Heart of Arabia, English Group 3 winner Bright Crocus and Grade 3 winner Materco.
- Jet Mist (1961, by Jet Pilot) is the third dam of five stakes winners including multiple Chilean Group 1 winner Puro Toro and 1993 Tanteo de Potrillos (CHI-G1) winner Cap Horn.
- Honey Lake (1963, by Spy Song) was stakes-placed in Ireland. She produced Clasico Año Nuevo (PAN-G2) winner Chevere (by Personality) and listed stakes winner Domac's Dream (by High Echelon). She is the second dam of four stakes winners including multiple Group 3-placed Choco Air and the third dam of 10 stakes winners including multiple Grade 1 winner Marquetry and French Group 2 winner Spain Lane.
Connections
Miss Grillo was bred by Haras San Ignacio and owned by Caballeriza El Grillo, which purchased her for just 6,000 Argentine pesos as a yearling. In the United States, Miss Grillo was owned by Mill River Stable and trained by Horatio Luro. After the birth of her first foal, Miss Grillo passed to the ownership of Shawnee Farm and remained in the farm's broodmare band throughout her producing career. She was last reported as barren in 1964.
Pedigree notes
Miss Grillo is outcrossed within five generations. Her dam Cedulilla is a winning daughter of 1915 Polla de Potrancos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas) winner Picacero out of Consulta, by 1909 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas) winner Verdun. The next dam in the tail-female line, Carmine (by dual English Classic winner Ladas) was exported from England to Argentina in 1910.
Fun facts
- “Grillo” means “cricket” in Spanish.
- Miss Grillo was so far in front at the conclusion of the 1947 Pimlico Cup—she won by an estimated 40 lengths—that jockey Conn McCreary was standing straight up in his stirrups and waving to the crowd during the final yards.
- The Miss Grillo Stakes is a Grade 2 race for 2-year-old fillies. Inaugurated in 1980, it is contested at 8.5 furlongs on turf at Belmont Park.
Last updated: August 14, 2020