BY BROCK SHERIDAN
A stakes winner over the synthetic course at Gulfstream Park, Florida-bred Dancing N Dixie tries to duplicate those credentials on the grass Saturday when the daughter of Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Neolithic goes in the $125,000 Ginger Brew at the Hallandale Beach, Fla., oval. Dancing N Dixie will also be vying for a share of the $20,000 bonus for a Florida-bred who finishes in the top three presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association in the one mile Ginger Brew on the turf. The Florida-bred bonus will be paid on a 50%-30%-20% schedule.
Dancing N Dixie won the $90,000 Our Dear Peggy going a mile-and-70-yards over the all-weather course at Gulfstream on Nov. 3 but was unsuccessful in her next race when out of the money at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the main track for the $300,000 Florida Sire Stakes My Dear Girl won by Honey Dijon on Dec. 2.
The Our Dear Peggy victory came after she won for the first time against special weight maiden fillies at the same distance on the synthetic course on Oct. 1 after two unsuccessful tries on the main track in August and September against maiden fillies.
Trainer Mark Casse is hoping her successful form on synthetic transfers to the grass in the Ginger Brew, where she faces 11 other 3-year-old fillies going a mile in her turf debut.
Owned by Quintessential Racing Florida LLC, Rocky Top Stable (Ventura) and LEMB Stables, Dancing N Dixie is out of Foolhearted Woman, by Uncaptured and was bred in Florida by Freddie Hyatt.
She was purchased by White Type Stables for $35,000 out of the Blue River Bloodstock consignment at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale and has already earned $89,610 in her five races.
Dancing N Dixie has post three in the Ginger Brew and jockey Miguel Vasquez gets the return mount.
Dancing N Dixie will face two other stakes winners Saturday in Omaha Girl and Ozara (Ire).
Trained by Jorge Delgado for AMO Racing USA, Omaha Girl won the $65,000 Hallandale Beach going a mile at Gulfstream on Sept. 24 before an unsuccessful trip to Santa Anita for the Grade 1 NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies won by Just F Y I. Omaha Girl was bumped at the start of the Juvenile Fillies and was never able to get into contention, finishing last of 12.
In one start on grass, the daughter of Omaha Beach was again bumped at the start of the $106,000 Colleen won by Amidst Wavers at Monmouth Park in July and finished fifth.
Omaha Girl has won half of her four career races with revenues of $76,110.
She will be ridden by David Egan from post two.
Ozara has been on the turf in all four of her career starts including a victory last out in the $100,000 Wait A While going seven-and-a-half furlongs at Gulfstream on Dec. 9. She was also fourth behind winner She Feels Pretty in the Grade 1 Natalma going a mile on the turf at Woodbine in September and second to Living Magic in the $135,000 Chelsey Flower during the Belmont at Big A meeting on Oct. 27.
Ozara is by Lope de Varga (Ire) and has won two with one second in four starts with earnings of $162,132 for owner Cheyenne Stable LLC.
Trainer Christophe Clement has given the riding assignment on Ozara to Tyler Gaffalione and they will depart from post four.
Rounding out the field for the Ginger Brew are Madame Mischief with jockey Paco Lopez, Time to Dazzle and rider Joe Bravo, Waskesiu with Junior Alvarado up, John Velazquez rides San Pantaleo, Buttercream Babe has Luis Saez named to ride, Independenceavenue will be guided by jockey Jose Ortiz, Yatta with jockey Oisin Murphy, Golden Ghost has Edgard Zayas aboard, Life’s an Audible will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. Mojave Desert is on the also-eligible list.
