Gina Romantica Leads Brown Quartet in Jenny Wiley

Trainer Chad Brown sends out a strong hand of fillies and mares, led by grade 1 winners Gina Romantica  and Surge Capacity , in search of his seventh win over the last 10 years in the $600,000 Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland April 13.

Leading the Brown quartet is Peter Brant's Gina Romantica. With Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle for the first time, Gina Romantica earned her second top-level victory by winning the First Lady Stakes (G1T) by a head over the Keeneland grass last Oct. 7. The pair then traveled west to compete against the boys in the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Santa Anita Park, rallying for a solid fourth-place effort only one length behind winner Master of the Seas .

Video: FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1T)

Gaffalione started the Keeneland 2024 spring meet with a bang, winning both grade 1 events on opening weekend. Gina Romantica, a 5-year-old mare, is 2-for-2 over the Keeneland turf and has earned $1,208,603 in her career.

Klaravich Stables' Surge Capacity could be the rising female turf star in Brown's barn after a strong 3-year-old season that saw her notch four wins from five starts. She capped her year on top, defeating stablemate Fluffy Socks  by a head in the Matriarch Stakes (G1T) at Del Mar Dec. 3. The daughter of Flintshire  had success on the Keeneland course in the fall with a win in the Valley View Stakes (G3T).

Head of Plains Partners' Fluffy Socks is as consistent as they come but has made a habit of falling just short. Winless for nearly a year since taking the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs last May 6, the 6-year-old daughter of Slumber  has picked up four placings in six starts since. 

Rounding out the Brown quartet is Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Louis Lazzinnaro's Beaute Cachee , who has hit the board in all five of her U.S. starts, including two victories. Most recently, she was third 1 1/2 lengths behind her stablemates in the Matriarch.

Threats From Other Trainers

Brown may hold a strong hand, but he is not the only trainer with a shot at visiting the winners' circle.

• A 2-time group 1 winner in her native Argentina, Didia  has made her presence felt since moving to Ignacio Correas' American barn in 2022, winning six of her eight starts. A three-time grade 2 winner in the states, the only blemishes on her record have come attempting to earn a coveted grade 1 trophy. She bounced back off a disappointing effort in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) with a determined victory in the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational (G2T) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 27, a win that pushed her career earnings over the $1 million mark.
• Star Fortress  was most impressive when making her stateside debut Nov. 23 at Churchill Downs in the Cardinal Stakes (G3T) but finished a disappointing 11th for her encore against Didia in the Pegasus. Fifth beaten two lengths March 9 in the Hillsborough Stakes (G2T) at Tampa Bay Downs, trainer Cherie DeVaux will hope to get her back on track.
• Godolphin homebred English Rose  will be looking to make a strong first impression in the states as she travels over the pond for Charlie Appleby. Sporting a 3-for-4 record, the 4-year-old daughter of Frankel   won the Balanchine (G2T) at Meydan Feb. 23 in her last start.

The Jenny Wiley is race 9 with post time at 5:16 p.m. ET.