Hollin Ice, the winner of the G3 Princess Rooney Stakes, is set to make her turf debut this Saturday, competing against nine other fillies and mares in the $100,000 Abundantia Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Hollin Ice, a 4-year-old filly by Coal Front, boasts the highest earnings among Arkansas-breds and will face a strong field, including multiple stakes winners like Love Appeals, Choose Joy, Moon Joy, and Sporting Lady.
With a record of 10 wins in 18 races, Hollin Ice recently placed sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly Sprint at Del Mar after qualifying through the Princess Rooney “Win and You Are In.” This will mark her first race on turf, despite limited turf influence in her pedigree, which features Lone Star turf sprint winners through her dam, She’s Smoke.
Joseph shared that her original plan to run in an Arkansas-bred race was changed due to limited spots, prompting the decision to test her on turf. The key question remains whether she can maintain her dirt track speed on the grass. Irad Ortiz Jr. has been named to ride Hollin Ice.
Among her rivals, Love Appeals, trained by Miguel Clement and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, has proven turf credentials with a 6-2-3 record in 14 turf starts. The 5-year-old daughter of Speightstown recently defended her title at Monmouth. Choose Joy, an 8-year-old filly trained by Steve Dwoskin, has a strong record at Gulfstream Park’s turf courses and distances but showed mixed results in recent Tapeta races.
Missoula, a 4-year-old Zooster filly from Australia, who is undefeated in two long-distance turf races, brings international experience, while Sporting Lady, trained by Jose D’Angelo, has also shown consistent turf form with two wins and two seconds this year.
This competitive lineup promises an exciting event for turf enthusiasts and showcases emerging talent making strategic moves in the racing circuit.
Fan Take: This turf debut for Hollin Ice is a thrilling twist that highlights the versatility and adaptability required in modern horse racing. Fans should watch closely, as her performance could influence training strategies and breeding choices, potentially shaping future turf competitions.
