Just more than five weeks after securing the first stakes win of her career in an off-the-turf edition of the Wait a While Stakes at Gulfstream Park, Candy Kitty will return to grass racing Jan. 5 at Gulfstream in the $100,000 Ginger Brew Stakes.
After four straight turf starts, a stretch that included her maiden special weight victory at Saratoga Race Course and a fourth-place finish in the J.P. Morgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (gr. IIIT) Oct. 9 at Keeneland, Starlight Racing's Candy Kitty rallied from fifth to post a clear victory in the Wait a While Nov. 30 on a sloppy Gulfstream main track.
After guiding Candy Kitty in the Wait a While, Edgar Prado returns to ride the Lemon Drop Kid filly Sunday. Prado and Candy Kitty will break from the inside in the expected field of 11 3-year-old fillies.
Other promising fillies in the Ginger Brew include Stonetastic, by Mizzen Mast , who will make her first start on turf after placing in a pair of grade II stakes at Churchill Downs in 2013; Cool Faith, by Pulpit, a close runner-up in last year's Cup and Saucer Stakes on the Woodbine turf; and Miss Besilu, by Medaglia d'Oro , an impressive maiden winner Dec. 7 on the Gulfstream turf.
$100,000 Ginger Brew Stakes (race 10, approximate post time 5:03 p.m. EST) 3YO, Fillies, 1 1/16 miles, turf
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Candy Kitty (KY), E. Prado, 120, T. Pletcher
2. Street Sailing (PA), J. Rosario, 116, R. Nicks
3. Merry Merry Bee (KY), J. Castellano, 116, M. Dini
4. Wicket Temper (KY), J. Rocco Jr., 116, D. Romans
5. Super Fantasy (FL), J. Chamafi, 116, M. Azpurua
6. Jerry Love (AR), A. Garcia, 116, M. Trombetta
7. Needmore Flatery (OH), J. Castanon, 120, T. Hamm
8. Cool Faith (ON), J. Bravo, 116, P. Attard
9. Stonetastic (KY), C. Lanerie, 116, K. Breen
10. Spring Again (KY), D. Davis, 116, W. Ward
11. Miss Besilu (VA), J. Lezcano, 116, W. Mott