Abundancia adds blinkers, Lasix, switches surfaces in second U.S. start

Abundancia gets a complete makeover when she makes her 4-year-old debut Thursday at Gulfstream Park in a first-level allowance/optional $25,000 claiming race going one mile that serves as the feature on a nine-race program.

Abundancia, a Kentucky-bred daughter of California Chrome who made the first 11 starts of her career in Peru, gets Lasix and blinkers for the first time. She also gets to run on what should be a fast main track for the first time. Abundancia won four starts over dirt tracks labeled good in Peru last summer.

Abundancia has made just one start in the United States, finishing 11th of 12 in the Grade 3 Valley View on turf last October at Keeneland. She has a dirt pedigree as her dam, Cry to Kat’s Me, went 3 for 5 on dirt and is a half-sister to Comfort, a listed stakes winner who finished second to Frosted in the Grade 1 Whitney in 2016.

Based this winter at Palm Meadows, Abundancia shows a steady series of workouts for trainer Dante Zanelli, who runs a bloodstock company and has only raced three horses in his name as trainer since 2017.

Javier Castellano is named to ride Abundancia from the rail.

Trainer Mark Casse sends out Sense You Left, a 7-year-old mare whom he claimed last December for $30,000 on behalf of Gary Barber.

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In her first start for them, Sense You Left finished third, losing a nose photo for second while beaten only a half-length by Chem Major in a two-turn race at Tampa. Sense You Left couldn’t overcome her outside draw and had a wide trip throughout, which may have taken its toll late.

“I thought she ran well at Tampa, she got bothered on the first turn, it probably cost her the race,” Casse said.

Irad Ortiz Jr. is named to ride, but he will be leaving after race 6 to make his flight to Saudi Arabia where on Saturday he rides White Abarrio in the $20 million Saudi Cup. Casse said John Velazquez will be aboard.

Steel Racer is coming back 11 days after she finished third in this condition to American Rockette going six furlongs. In this spot, Steel Racer gets to stretch back out to a mile, a distance at which she has recorded two of her three career victories.

Tyler Gaffalione is named to ride for trainer Marty Drexler.

Rita’s Onthe Beach, trained by Ian Wilkes, comes off a maiden win going a mile and 40 yards on Jan. 13 at Tampa.

Great Analogy beat Florida-breds here Jan. 17 for Happy Alter. Mama Maria returns to Gulfstream after a disappointing fifth at Tampa in December for trainer Jose D’Angelo. Miss Ucrania looks like a longshot in this field.

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