Gulfstream Park: Ann of the Dance aims to avoid trouble in Sweetest Chant Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Frolic’s Revenge and Ready Signal crossed the wire first and second, respectively, in the Ginger Brew Stakes here Dec. 24, but it is third-place finisher Ann of the Dance who may get the most play when the trio hooks up again at a mile in Sunday’s $100,000 Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream Park.

Ann of the Dance rallied from near the rear of the pack and overcame an unlucky trip to finish less than a length behind Frolic’s Revenge in the 1 1/16-mile Ginger Brew. The outing was just the second for Ann of the Dance since she was purchased privately by Chasing Talls Stable and turned over to trainer Marty Wolfson shortly before her 13th-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Ann of the Dance, a daughter of English Channel, stumbled badly near the half-mile pole in the Ginger Brew and was left with too much to do once recovering from the incident.

“She didn’t have a good trip in either of her last two starts, but especially in the race here,” Wolfson said. “I always get worried in a big field like that. She almost fell down the backstretch when clipping heels. And she’s really not a deep closer on the turf. I expect to see her sitting only about four or five lengths back on Sunday.”

Julien Leparoux will be aboard Ann of the Dance for the first time in the Sweetest Chant.

Frolic’s Revenge broke from post 11, chased Ready Signal into the stretch, and then overtook that rival nearing the eighth pole before holding on to a desperate neck decision as a 16-1 outsider in the Ginger Brew. Paco Lopez rode Frolic’s Revenge to victory that day for trainer Milt Wolfson (no relation to Marty), but the two-time defending Gulfstream riding champion is currently serving a riding suspension and will be replaced by Jose Lezcano on Sunday.

One filly not coming out of the Ginger Brew who may ultimately prove the horse to beat is Daytatthespa. The lightly raced daughter of City Zip was an easy winner of her career debut against New York-breds this summer at Saratoga before heading north of the border to finish second going a mile in Woodbine’s Grade 3 Natalma. That performance earned her a ticket to the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf, where she finished ninth after pressing the pace into the stretch.

Awesome Belle also participated in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup, finishing far back in the Juvenile Fillies after breaking from post 14. Awesome Belle dominated the third and final leg of the filly division of Calder’s Florida Stallion series, the 1 1/16-mile In Reality, drawing out to an easy 7 1/2-length victory in her two-turn debut. The Sweetest Chant will mark her turf debut.

Wholelottashakin, Italian Rose, Sisterhood, and Slews Exchange complete the field.

Kitten's Joy S., Post Time: 4:45 ET Saturday

Purse: $100,000; 1 1/16 mile (T)

Post	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	ML Odds
	Italo	W. Ward	J. Sanchez	4-1
	Argentine Tango	S. Gold	R. Maragh	8-1
	El Romano	M. Azpurua	J. Leyva	10-1
	Howe Great	H. Motion	E. Prado	5-1
	Lucky Chappy (IRE)	H. Motion	J. Castellano	9-5
	Cozzetti	D. Romans	J. Leparoux	6-1
	Empire Builder	L. Duco	A. Gallardo	6-1
	Scorcher	J. Garoffalo	J. Rocco, Jr.	15-1