Ginger Nut set for U.S. debut in Sweet Life Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 2-year-old filly Ginger Nut had an outstanding summer in England last year, winning three of her final four starts, all in sprints. Her form caught the attention of Pete and Kosta Hronis and trainer John Sadler, who bought Ginger Nut privately in October.

Ginger Nut will have her American debut, and first start in a graded stakes, in Sunday’s Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita. Sadler said the filly has settled well in California and that the $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes is a prep for longer races.

“I think she’ll run up to a mile,” Sadler said. “She’s had plenty of time to acclimatize.

“When I’ve worked her with other horses, she’s responded well.”

Previously trained by Richard Hannon, Ginger Nut lost her first four starts before winning an allowance race and the $328,300 Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes against males at 5 1/4 furlongs at Newbury in consecutive starts last July.

In August, Ginger Nut was second in a 14-runner handicap against fillies at Newmarket and won a minor handicap against 17 rivals, including males, at six furlongs at York in her final start in the country. Ginger Nut typically ran from off the pace in England.

Ginger Nut is part of an expected field of six in the Sweet Life. This will be the third start in the United States for Thriving, who was third in the Blue Norther Stakes at a mile on turf on Dec. 30. Trained by Jeff Mullins, Thriving finished last of 12 with a troubled trip in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 24.

Splashy Kisses won a maiden special weight race at Del Mar in the summer, but had mixed results in stakes through the fall and early winter. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Splashy Kisses was second by 19 1/2 lengths to Serengeti Empress in the Grade 2 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs in September and eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies there in November.

Splashy Kisses was sixth in her turf debut in the Blue Norther Stakes. She was unsettled for the first three furlongs of the race and finished six lengths behind winner Giza Goddess.