by Tim Nichols

Maram gutted out a tough final furlong in the Miss Grillo Stakes (G3) as she wore down a pair of rivals to prevail by a neck on Wednesday at Belmont Park.

The win earned undefeated Maram a starting spot in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on October 24 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series.

Maram completed 1 1/16 miles on turf rated as yielding in 1:46.12. She finished a neck ahead of runner-up Freedom Rings.

Trained by Chad Brown for Karen Woods, the Sahm filly entered off a win in a 1 1/16-mile maiden claiming race on August 25 at Saratoga Race Course in her career debut.

“She’s done something that you like to see in that she has grown and developed a lot since I got her in May,” Brown said. “[Jockey] Jose [Lezcano] gave her as good of a ride as he could.”

Sent off at odds of 6.60-to-1, Maram was positioned in fourth by Lezcano as Miss Bodine controlled the pace.

Miss Bodine set fractions of :24.92, :49.42, and 1:14.60 through six furlongs as Maram raced in fourth approaching the quarter pole.

My Magic Moment split foes in early stretch to take the lead, a head in front of Freedom Rings, as Maram loomed one length behind the leader in third. Maram found another gear inside the sixteenth pole and wore down My Magic Moment and Freedom Rings to win.

“I was confident,” Lezcano said. “When I asked her, she gave me a great kick.”

Freedom Rings finished a head in front of My Magic Moment.

Out of the winning Quest for Fame (GB) mare American Dreamer, Maram increased her earnings to $123,120 with the win.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Tim Nichols is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY assistant editor