Princess Rooney (G3) scorer Haulin Ice will venture into new territory on Saturday (27th December) as she makes her first appearance on grass in the $100,000 Abundantia Stakes at Gulfstream Park, taking on nine fellow fillies and mares in the five-furlong dash.
Conditioned by Saffie Joseph Jr., Haulin Ice enters as the top-earning accredited Arkansas-bred and meets a competitive lineup featuring established stakes performers Love Appeals, Choose Joy, Moon Joy, and Sporting Lady. The Abundantia Stakes at Gulfstream Park promises a sharp examination of early pace and adaptability, particularly for runners new to the surface.
The 4-year-old filly by Coal Front has compiled an impressive record, winning 10 of her 18 career starts. She earned her “Win & You’re In” success in the Princess Rooney before finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar on November 1. Saturday will mark her initial start on turf. She is out of She’s Smoke, an unraced daughter of Half Ours and Ready At Nine, a mare who captured a turf sprint at Lone Star.
“She was originally lined up for an allowance race for Arkansas-breds at Oaklawn Park, but when that race didn’t come together, the owners decided to explore the turf option,” Joseph said. “There isn’t a strong grass influence in her pedigree, but she has plenty of natural speed. The key is whether she can sustain it on grass.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. has the riding assignment aboard Haulin Ice in the Abundantia Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Love Appeals, trained by Miguel Clement, brings consistent turf credentials with a 6-2-3 tally from 14 starts on the surface. The 5-year-old Speightstown mare exits a runner-up effort in the Floral Park at Aqueduct and successfully defended her Incredible Revenge title at Monmouth in August. Tyler Gaffalione retains the mount.
Last year’s Abundantia runner-up Choose Joy represents Steve Dwoskin and boasts remarkable reliability over this course and distance, having finished first or second in 11 of 12 tries. Now eight, she returned from a 14-month break with a Tapeta victory in October before finishing seventh in the Islamorada on November 30.
Breaking from the inside gate is Mizoula, a 4-year-old daughter of Zoustar who remains unbeaten in two starts at the trip. Trained by Kerri Raven, she has raced at Saratoga, Colonial, Delaware, and Aqueduct during the past year, with David Egan set to ride.
Also in the field is Sporting Lady, sent out by Jose D’Angelo. Formerly trained by Keri Brion, the Munnings filly recorded two turf wins and two second-place finishes earlier in the season. She finished third over five furlongs on Tapeta in her first outing for her new barn.
“Keri prepared her very well, and she’s adjusted smoothly since arriving in Florida,” D’Angelo said. “This represents a tougher assignment, but she’s coming along nicely and we expect a solid effort.”
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