Sail By stalked the pace from second before taking command at the top of the lane to post a one-length victory in the G2 Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont Park October 2.
With the victory, the two-year-old filly became the first Graded Stakes winner in the Northern Hemisphere for her sire, Astern.
Sail By, who broke her maiden on first asking in June, entered the Miss Grillo off a third-place effort in the P.G. Johnson Stakes last time out. Prior to that, she was a good second in the Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park.
Taken in-hand early by jockey Junior Alvarado, Sail By was rated in second, content to track the pacesetter, Charlee O, through the initial stages of the race. Sail By began to close on the far turn, quickly overhauling Charlee O to take the lead at the top of the stretch. She continued to maintain the lead through the lane, eventually crossing the wire to win comfortably.
Sail By was bred in Kentucky by Jeff Treadway and races for Treadway Racing Stable. She is the first foal out of Fly By, a winning daughter of Johar. Fly By also has a yearling full brother to the Miss Grillo winner.
Astern is also the sire of recent Kentucky Downs winner Grael and of Tom’s Beauty, a winner at Santa Anita. Astern has also represented by additional North American winners Mainstay (G3-placed), The Arcadian Way and Brandon’smylawyer.
