Gulfstream Park: Discreet Marq among multiple contenders in Ginger Brew

Tom Keyser

Discreet Marq wins a maiden race at Saratoga. One of the favorites for the Ginger Brew, she worked five furlongs in 59.25 at Gulfstream on Dec. 23.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The racing office had its work cut out filling entries for several of the stakes races on Tuesday’s holiday program at Gulfstream Park. But there was no such problem when it came to the $75,000 Ginger Brew, which drew a field of 14 3-year-old fillies to go 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Among the leading contenders to win the wide-open Ginger Brew is Discreet Marq, a stakes winner on grass in her juvenile finale for trainer Jim Ryerson. She is now with trainer Jane Cibelli. Discreet Marq has settled in nicely in her new surroundings and even has the benefit of a work over the course, looking very good breezing five furlongs in 59.25 seconds on Dec. 23.

“I love this filly,” said Cibelli. “I think she’s got a big future ahead of her. The only question is distance. She’ll do anything you want in the morning, she’s not difficult to rate, and she turned in a super work over the grass here the other day. She’s acclimated to Gulfstream like a second home. She loves it down here.”

Other key contenders in the Ginger Brew include stakes winners Kitten’s Dumplings and Mariel N Kathy, the Irish-bred import Tuttipaesi, I O Ireland, and the Chad Brown-trained trio of Corporate Culture, Wave Theory, and Heart of New York.

One member of the 14 horse lineup not likely to start is Floral Sky.

“I just thought that race looks pretty darn tough to me to be running for $75,000,” said trainer Mark Casse, who planned to scratch his filly from the Ginger Brew.