HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Stone Silent showed a new dimension when harnessing her abundant early speed and rallying to a 1 3/4-length victory over Choose Joy in the Abundantia Stakes here to close out her 2023 campaign. And she’ll likely try to apply similar strategy in a field loaded with speed when launching her 2024 campaign in Sunday’s $100,000 Ladies Turf Sprint at Gulfstream Park. Stone Silent, who led throughout in her two previous victories, broke a bit tardily before settling in nice position just off a contested and lively early pace of 21.42 seconds for the opening quarter of the five-furlong Abundantia. She ranged up outside the leaders entering the stretch, stuck her head in front inside the furlong marker, gradually edged clear, and was never really threatened thereafter. Stone Silent may have her hand forced a little more early on in the five-furlong Ladies Turf Sprint after drawing the rail in a field of nine fillies and mares with Junior Alvarado, who guided her to victory in the Abundantia, getting the return call from trainer Brian Lynch. The late-running Choose Joy also should benefit from the projected pace scenario, looking to avenge her setback in Sunday’s rematch with Stone Silent. Choose Joy has been a model of consistency throughout her career for owner-trainer Steve Dwoskin, especially on the turf, with five wins and five seconds in 10 lifetime starts on grass. “She’s been amazing her whole career,” Dwoskin said. “I had to lay her off for a long time and now she’s come back as good as if not better than ever. Five furlongs is her game, and I expect her to run every bit as good again on Sunday.” :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports Glitter Up, Fulminate, The Arcadian Way, and Boo Boo Kitty are among those expected to vie for the early lead. The field also includes Baby Steps, who turns back to five furlongs after finishing second in the one-mile Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf here four weeks earlier, along with a couple of new shooters to the local stakes scene, Canadiansweetheart and Shasta Star, both of whom banked more than $147,000 in earnings in 2023. Impressive maiden back on the tab Victory Avenue, who earned a 97 Beyer Speed Figure only to come out second best behind the Todd Pletcher-trained Speak Easy when launching his career on the Pegasus World Cup undercard, was back on the work tab for the first time since that outing here Friday. He breezed an easy half-mile in 48.75 seconds, then galloped out full of run, going six panels in 1:14.52 and seven-eighths in 1:28.03 before easing up after a mile in 1:42. Victory Avenue is trained by Gustavo Delgado, who sent out Mage to win his career debut in the same race on the Pegasus card a year ago as a prelude to winning the Kentucky Derby several months later. The connections of Victory Avenue are hopeful he too might end up on the same path in the coming months. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. “For his first work back after the race, I thought it was awesome,” said Delgado’s son and assistant, Gustavo Delgado Jr. “He looked like he wanted to go around there another turn and it didn’t take him very long to recover after the breeze.” The younger Delgado said, “Everything is on the table” for Victory Avenue’s next start, including the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 2, although the most likely spot for his return, at the moment, is in a maiden special weight race carded at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 24. “Unfortunately, Luis [Saez] won’t be in town for the race on the 24th and we’d like him to ride the horse back, so that is part of the discussion regarding where he runs next,” Delgado conceded. “The book says we should run him in the maiden race first, and that’s what we’re aiming at, although we will nominate to the Fountain of Youth and take a look. It’s a good purse, it carries qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, and it’s not like we haven’t done something like that before.” Delgado was referring to the fact his father sent out Bodexpress, a maiden, to finish second behind Maximum Security at odds of 71-1 in the 2019 Florida Derby. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.