Nitrogen victorious in the Ginger Brew (Ryan Thompson)
Breeders’ Cup-Placed Filly Breaks Maiden in Fourth Try
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – D. J. Stable’s twice Grade 1-placed Nitrogen broke her maiden in grand style with a dramatic late run to edge Love Cervere and Grade 3-placed local stakes winner Civetta by a half-length in Saturday’s $165,000 Ginger Brew at Gulfstream Park.
The 14th running of the Ginger Brew for newly turned 3-year-old fillies going one mile on the grass anchored an 11-race program that included the $165,000 Mucho Macho Man for 3-year-olds, first step on the road to the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 29.
It was the third win of the day for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse and first for jockey Jose Ortiz, in from Fair Grounds to keep the mount on the bay daughter of Medaglia d’Oro after their third-place finish together in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) Nov. 1.
“When we brought the horse out of the Breeders’ Cup we wanted to give her a little freshener, which we accomplished. She looked like she grew and she developed, which we had hoped for,” D. J. Stable racing manager Jonathan Green said.
“We were deciding between this race and a maiden race and, quite frankly, the timing of this was perfect. Mark Casse and his team did a great job getting her back, and we felt very confident that she was going to run well in this race,” he added. “It’s hard to believe this is her first win.”
Favored at 9-5 in field of 10, Nitrogen ($5.60) settled in fifth as Miss Grillo (G2) runner-up Correto, seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, ran alongside 40-1 longshot Forward Deployed through the first quarter-mile in 23.11 seconds. Good Long Cry, with John Velazquez up, was in the clear three wide in third while Irad Ortiz Jr. had Civetta saving ground in fourth along the rail.
The order went unchanged after a half in 47.51 with Tyler Gaffalione moving Love Cervere into contention up the inside. Jose Ortiz found himself behind a wall of horses turning for home as Love Cervere ducked to the inside to make her but, but Nitrogen burst through a seam inside the sixteenth pole and surged late to win in 1:34.53 over a firm turf course.
Love Cervere held second by a head over Civetta with Winning Streep, Correto, Fixin to Bee, Disco Star, Forward Deployed, Good Long Cry and Special Aviator completing the order of finish. Smile Po, Hello Hello Hello and La Gioconda were scratched.
“It was a good trip,” Jose Ortiz said. “She broke clean and had a good run through the first turn. On the backside I was able to follow Johnny, which I was happy with, but then at the three-eighths pole I had to wait a little and follow Irad. Gaffalione got a nice trip inside of Irad, as well. When we hit the eighth pole she gave me a nice turn of foot. I hit her left-handed and she responded again. All the credit goes to Mr. Casse and his team, Mr. Green and his family. I appreciate the opportunity. She’s a very nice filly.”
Nitrogen was beaten a neck in her Aug. 30 unveiling at Woodbine, where she returned to run third after setting the pace in the mid-September Natalma (G1). She rallied from far back to be third by less than three lengths in the Breeders’ Cup; the Ginger Brew was her fourth straight race at a mile on the grass.
Green, who manages the stable for his father, Leonard Green, said Nitrogen will point for the $150,000 Sweetest Chant for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the grass Feb. 1.
“I think what we’re looking at is the three-race series here at Gulfstream,” he said. “It lines up perfectly. They’re all four, five weeks apart. It’s a good succession as far as distances, and then hopefully on to bigger and better things down the road.”
