Brown gives Rymska seal of approval for Sweetest Chant

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Beyer Speed Figure-wise and otherwise, there’s not a lot on paper to distinguish Rymska from her eight opponents in the Grade 3, $100,000 Sweetest Chant. But after you realize that Rymska will be making her second start for Chad Brown, she suddenly becomes the filly to beat Saturday in the 26th running of the one-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park.

Not only has Brown won five of the last six runnings of the Sweetest Chant, but he is impressed with how Rymska has progressed since finishing fifth in the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

“Now that I’ve had the opportunity to have her in our program a little longer, I see a horse that has improved as she has turned 3,” said Brown, the 2016 Eclipse Award winner for outstanding trainer. “She has been able to adapt to our system, and we’ve gotten to know her better. I expect a good race from her.”

Joel Rosario has the call on Rymska from post 7.

The Sweetest Chant and its twin brother, the $100,000 Kitten’s Joy, are among the five stakes – all for 3-year-olds – on a 12-race Saturday card at Gulfstream. The Sweetest Chant directly precedes the day’s featured finale, the Grade 2 Holy Bull, as race 11 (post, 5:05 p.m. Eastern).

Besides Rymska, who was based in France before being turned over to Brown, other contenders in the Sweetest Chant include Fifty Five and Tamit, the one-two finishers in a key allowance prep here Jan. 1; Compelled, a romping winner of a restricted stakes last out for owner-breeder Glen Hill Farm; and a pair of last-out maiden winners, Okinawa and Mo Justice.

Key Contenders

SWEETEST CHANT (race 11)

Rymska, by Le Havre

Beyers: 79-78

◗ Sheep Pond Partners is among the owners who bought into this French-bred filly with original owner Alain Jathiere, enticed by the potential she showed overseas in winning two of three starts for trainer Pia Brandt.

◗ Her stateside debut was solid, as she finished second in the Grade 3 Miss Grillo behind the Brown-trained New Money Honey, who went on to win the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Fifty Five, by Get Stormy

Last 3 Beyers: 73-60-49

◗ Trained by Tom Bush, this New York-bred has developed a terrific closing kick that should serve her well here, assuming there’s enough pace up front.

Made You Look tough again

The Kitten’s Joy comes four weeks after Made You Look drew off to dominate the Grade 3 Dania Beach as the 6-5 favorite, and there’s not a lot to suggest he’ll be denied a repeat here as an odds-on favorite.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Made You Look already is a two-time graded stakes winner from five career starts, having accounted for the Grade 2 With Anticipation on closing weekend of the Saratoga meet last summer. Javier Castellano will be back aboard from post 4.

Three of his opponents from the Dania Beach are back, including Clyde’s Image, who was second at 45-1, and Kitten’s Cat, who was fourth as the 9-5 second choice.

There would be no more fitting upsetter than Kitten’s Cat. His sire is Kitten’s Joy, the standout sire for whom this race is named, and he was bred by his owners, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who have been asked to present the trophy to the winning connections.

“I hope I’ve got a good victory speech for myself,” Ken Ramsey said with a laugh.

As race 4 (post, 1:30), the Kitten’s Joy is the first of the five Saturday stakes.

Key contenders

KITTEN’S JOY (race 4)

Made You Look, by More Than Ready

Last 3 Beyers: 85-83-75

◗ Owned by the Let’s Go Stable and Three Chimneys Farm, this handy colt got a well-timed ride from Castellano in the Dania Beach.

Kitten’s Cat, by Kitten’s Joy

Last 3 Beyers: 75-85-78

◗ Winner of the Juvenile Turf Sprint on Breeders’ Cup weekend at Santa Anita, he had a relatively clean, ground-saving trip in the Dania Beach and will just have to do better this time.