Abbondanza wins at Laurel

Abbondanza, winner of the Dave's Friend Stakes at 12-1 on Oct. 29, proved that victory was no fluke, rallying to defeat similar opposition in the $63,500 Fire Plug Stakes on Monday at Laurel - again at a decent price.

Abbondanza broke fastest in the field of eight under Enrique Jurado, but took back to rate in third or fourth behind fractions of 22.74 seconds and 46.45 in the six-furlong race for older horses.

Dale's Prospect, who ran third behind Abbondanza in the Dave's Friend, and Crafty Schemer turned for home a head-bob apart on the lead. As they battled along the inside, Abbondanza came bursting down the middle of the track and won by 1 1/4 lengths.

"I had a ton of horse on the turn," Jurado said. "I decided to put him in the clear and let him do the rest."

Crafty Schemer outslugged Dale's Prospect by a neck for the place.

Saay Mi Name, fourth behind Abbondanza in the Dave's Friend, went off as the 9-5 favorite, but was never a threat, finishing fifth.

Abbondanza, trained by Tim Tullock for Germania Farms, was timed in 1:11.41 and paid $9.60.

A 5-year-old by Alphabet Soup out of the Centrust mare Katie McLaury, Abbondanza improved to 7 wins in 20 starts and $355,395 in earnings.

"I thought Saay Mi Name was the horse to beat," Tullock said. "He just didn't show up today. Look at any horse's form and you'll see at least one race when they don't show up."