Trainer Chad Brown Busy in Ginger Brew

Photo: Eclipse Sportswire

“All three horses are doing well, all three are evenly matched in my opinion. They’ve all had relatively the same experience,” Brown said. “It’s hard to separate the three of them, and I wouldn’t be surprised if any one of the three won.”

Corporate Culture, Heart of New York and Wave Theory are all scheduled to go to post in the Ginger Brew. Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence’s Corporate Culture broke her maiden at Belmont last time out on Oct. 28 after finishing a fast-closing third in her debut.

Joseph Riccelli’s Heart of New York broke her maiden at first asking at Belmont on Oct. 26 before finishing a troubled second in the $80,000 Lie Low Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 22. Martin Schwartz’s Wave Theory broke her maiden at Aqueduct on Nov. 18 after finishing fifth in the Miss Grillo (G3) over a yielding Belmont course.

“It’s not ideal. But when you get into the winter months, there aren’t as many tracks open, therefore there aren’t many opportunities on turf,” Brown said. “All three horses deserve a shot to be in the race. The way I approach it, if I have a horse who deserves to be in a race, they’re going to be in it. We’ll see how it plays out.”

Javier Castellano has the mount on Corporate Culture; Joe Bravo is named to ride Heart of New York; and Jose Lezcano has the return mount aboard Wave Theory.

Kitten’s Dumplings, a stakes-winning homebred of Ken and Sarah Ramsey, won’t have ideal conditions either in the Ginger Brew, in which she will break from the No. 14 post position.

“That’s not good. There’s nothing to like about it,” trainer Michael Maker said. “If she runs to 100 percent she’s one who could overcome it.”

Kitten’s Dumplings, who is scheduled to be ridden by Joel Rosario, captured the $75,000 La Senorita at Retama Park by three lengths on Nov. 10. Previously, she stumbled at the start to lose all chance in the Alcibiadies (G1) at Keeneland. She broke her maiden at first asking at Saratoga on Aug. 12 before finishing fourth in the Natalma (G2) at Woodbine.

Kitten’s Dumplings is just one of many offspring of Kitten’s Joy in Maker’s stable.
“Keep them coming,” Maker said.

One daughter of Kitten’s Joy would didn’t make it to Maker’s barn is the Ramseys’ homebred Kitten’s Queen, one of two fillies entered in the Ginger Brew by trainer Wayne Catalano.

Kitten’s Queen, who is set to be ridden by Joe Rocco Jr., is coming off a debut victory at Churchill Downs, where she broke from the No. 12 post and closed strongly to win by nearly two lengths.

Catalano will also saddle I’m Already Sexy who will seek her third straight victory after prevailing at Keeneland and Churchill Downs. John Velazquez is slated to ride the daughter of Ready’s Image for the Hit The Board Stables.

Patricia Generazio’s Discreet Marq and MeB Racing Stables and Brooklyn Boys Stable’s Mariel N Kathy figure to attract attention at the mutuel windows. Discreet Marq defeated the Brown-trained Heart of New York in the Lie Low Stakes last time out for trainer James Ryerson. Jane Cibelli, who recently took over the daughter of Discreet Cat’s training, has named Elvis Trujillo to ride.

Mariel N Kathy, who finished third behind Discreet Marq and Heart of New York in the Lie Low, previously won two straight, including a maiden score over Corporate Culture. Trainer Dominick Schettino has named Jose Espinoza to ride the daughter of Corinthian.

Rounding out the more formidable contenders are John Oxley’s Floral Sky and Valor Ladies LLC’s Tuttipaesi. Floral Sky won her only start on turf during her four-race career, winning an entry-level allowance at Woodbine by a length for trainer Mark Casse. The Graham Motion-trained Tuttipaesi will be making her first start in the U.S. after winning three of five starts in Europe. Alan Garcia has the mount on the Irish-bred filly.