OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Bill Mott was enduring one of the longest winless droughts at a race meeting that he could remember. Coming into Sunday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Miss Grillo Stakes, Mott was 0 for 36 with 10 seconds - five in stakes - at the Belmont at the Big A meet. “I’ve never had a streak this long before, this has to be the longest one in my lifetime that I can remember,” said the 71-year-old Hall of Fame and reigning Eclipse Award winning trainer. “I’ve never seen it before.” Mott’s luck changed for the better when Scythian inherited the lead at the head of the lane after another rival bolted and carried out two other horses. Scythian, who was getting a sweet trip under Junior Alvarado, then ran away to a 2 1/2-length victory in the Miss Grillo over favorite Virgin Colada, who was second by a head over Correto. Scythian is owned by Lawrence Goichman, who also owned Marvelous Madison, the horse who, while on the lead approaching the quarter pole, bolted under Manny Franco and impeded both Grace and Grit and Lavendar Disaster. According to Braulio Baeza, the New York State Gaming Commission steward, due to common ownership the stewards could have disqualified Scythian if they thought there was some sort of collusion with Marvelous Madison. Baeza said the stewards spoke to the riders involved - Manny Franco was aboard Marvelous Madison - and were satisfied that nothing nefarious happened. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. Mott, who watched the race from Saratoga, said the possibility of his horse being disqualified crossed his mind. “I turned to [his wife] Tina and said ‘they could take this filly down,’ “ Mott said. “I’m glad they didn’t.” The victory by Scythian earned her a spot in the starting gate for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 1 at Del Mar, as the race was part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series. Goichman, who was at Aqueduct on Sunday, said Scythian will be his first Breeders’ Cup starter. “Very exciting, you’re in this business for those moments,” Goichman said. “Nine-five percent of this business is pain and suffering, it’s the other five percent that keeps us all smiling. Especially when you breed one.” Scythian, a New York-bred daughter of Tiz the Law, was coming off a win against males, albeit New York-breds, on Aug. 30 at Saratoga, coincidentally Mott’s last win at that meet. In the Miss Grillo, Scythian was sitting a perfect fourth, just three lengths off the pace and on the inside of Lavender Disaster, one of three horses in the race trained by Chad Brown, who was seeking his 10th win in the Miss Grillo. Brown also trained Marvelous Madison, who was stretching out from a sprint race and was setting realistic fractions on the front end. But approaching the quarter pole, Marvelous Madison bolted, carrying out Grace and Grit and Lavender Disaster, effectively taking them out of the race. Now, Scythian was in front. Alvarado had plenty of horse underneath him and Scythian sped away in the stretch for the victory. Scythian covered the 1 1/16 miles over firm ground in 1:42.68 (77 Beyer  Speed Figure) and returned $24.20 to win. “Manny’s filly looked like she wanted to bolt from the three-eighths pole, I’m just trying to figure it out ... was he going to control her and bring her back in, or is he going to bolt?” Alvarado said. “At the same time, knowing I had plenty of horse to make my move whenever I wanted to, it gave me a chance to wait a little longer and when that happened, that’s when I zoomed on the inside and she took off after that.” Virgin Colada, the 2-1 favorite, rallied from 11th to nail Correto late to get second. The top three finishers are all likely to at least be pre-entered in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Brown, while satisfied enough with Virgin Colada’s performance, was disappointed what happened to Lavender Disaster, who Brown felt “looked like a winner every step of the way,” he said. Virgin Colada “was just out of position, she just didn’t help Flavien get any position,” Brown said. “It all opened up and she was able to get second. But with Lavender Disaster, what a disaster really, but there’s nothing I can do. I was thinking of running [Marvelous Madison] in the [Matron] but I just figured I’d run her here. I can’t believe she did that.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.