BY BROCK SHERIDAN
M Racing Group LLC’s Karaya will try to use her come-from-behind running style to win her second straight contest when she goes postward in Saturday’s $100,000 Abundantia at Gulfstream Park. A full field of 12 fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older, are set to go five furlongs on the turf with Karaya and Etrurian running for an extra $15,000 bonus for registered Florida-breds presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
In her last start on Nov. 24, Karaya came from seventh of eight after a slow start to win the $75,000 Nicole’s Dream overnight handicap as the 9-5 favorite going five-and-a-half furlongs on the Gulfstream Park synthetic course. The Abundantia will be her third career try against stakes horses after finishing second to Twirling Queen, who she is set to face again Saturday, in the $106,000 Melody of Colors going five furlongs on the all-weather course in March. She was then less successful in her next start on May 4, finishing last of 10 in the $80,000 Honey Ryder going a mile on the turf at Gulfstream.
Karaya is by Bucchero out of Jim’s Lonesa, by Put It Back and has won half of her eight career starts with a second and a third with earnings of $205,461. A half-sister to Florida-bred graded stakes-winner Two Sixty, Karaya is a two-time graduate of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales where she first sold for $31,000 to Monarch Farms out of Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield consignment at the 2022 Winter Mixed Sale. She was purchased by her current owner for $145,000 out of the Halcyon Hammock Farm consignment at the 2023 OBS June Sale.
Bred in Florida by Bert and Martha Pilcher in the name of their Shade Tree Thoroughbreds Inc., Karaya will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., who has been aboard the dark bay filly in each of her four career victories. They have post 10.
Etrurian started her year with three straight wins at Gulfstream then faltered last out on Oct. 4 when out of the money in a Keeneland allowance race won by Cloudwalker going five-and-a-half furlong on the turf. Second was Moonlit Lady, who is also entered back to run the Abundantia.
In her first start for trainer Joseph Orseno in July, Etrurian won a maiden special weight for state-bred fillies on the turf by four-and-a-half lengths then took two upper level, $75,000 optional claiming races in August and September.
Owned by Orseno with Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Etrurian is by Bucchero out of Imperial Strike, by Imperialism and was bred in Florida by Wendy Christ. She has won three of five career starts with one third with earnings of $114,687. The Heiligbrodt’s selected her out of the 2023 OBS June Sale where they paid $100,000 for her out of the Britton Peak consignment.
Edgard Zayas will ride Etrurian from post nine.
Twirling Queen looks to build on her solid ledger of 2024 having won five of six starts this year including the aforementioned Melody of Colors. She also won the $224,000 Mamozelle at Churchill Downs in May, the Coronation Cup at Saratoga in July and the $201,000 Sen. Ken Maddy at Del Mar in his last race on Nov. 1. Her only defeat this year came when ninth in the Grade 2 Raven Run won by Emery going seven furlongs at Keeneland on Oct. 19.
Twirling Queen is trained by Jose D’Angelo for GU Racing Stable LLC and has won six of 10 career starts with revenues of $499,438. She is by Twirling Candy out of Adventurous Lady, by Kantharos.
Luis Saez takes the call on Twirling Queen and they will depart the outside post 12.
Rounding out the field are Mrs. Gambolini with jockey Tyler Gaffalione, Edwin Gonzalez has the assignment on Wide West (Ire), American Starlet will be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, Moonlit Lady will carry David Egan, Junior Alvarado will ride Just Care (Ire), Shootoutthelights will have John Velazquez in the irons, Shoshanah will be ridden by Rajiv Maragh, Imaboutago (Ire) has Frankie Dettori named to ride, and Joe Bravo will be in the saddle on Drum Roll.
Return to the December 26 issue of Wire to Wire
