Trainer Ignacio Correas IV struck Breeders’ Cup gold in 2019 when Blue Prize (ARG) won the Distaff (G1) at Santa Anita.

This year, he is hoping to add more Breeders’ Cup success to his resume with a couple more South American imports in Didia (ARG) for the Maker’s Mark Filly and Mare Turf (G1) and Mufasa (CHI) for the Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile (G1).

Thursday afternoon in the fourth race at Keeneland, Correas unleashed another potential star in Happy Friday’s Nanda Dea (ARG).

Making her U.S. debut in her first race in 10 months, the 5-year-old mare kicked clear to a 2¼-length victory under Jose Ortiz in the 1 1/16-mile grass test. She earned her seventh victory in eight starts on the turf.

“She came to this country the end of January, but she stayed in Florida until mid-March because it made no sense to come from San Isidro (Argentina) to Kentucky when the temperatures were in the 20s and 30s,” Correas said.

A Group 1 winner in Argentina, where she scored two victories over males, Nanda Dea had her first Keeneland work at the end of May.

“I had to back off a little bit in the summer when it got cool here, and then I had to wait because there was no turf racing at Churchill Downs,” Correas said.

Asked what he planned to do next with Nanda Dea, Correas laughed and said, “Look at her. She’s pretty to look at.”