A dramatic finish and subsequent stewards’ inquiry reshaped the outcome of Saturday’s $100,000 Game Face Stakes at Gulfstream Park, where Lennilu was elevated to victory after Love Like Lucy was disqualified following interference in the stretch run.
The six-furlong contest for three-year-old fillies appeared headed for a narrow victory by Love Like Lucy, but officials ruled that the outward drift of the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained runner had impeded Lennilu’s momentum at a crucial stage of the race. Following review, the Patrick Biancone-trained Lennilu was placed first, securing another stakes success for the versatile filly.
Sent off the strong favourite, Lennilu settled comfortably in third under jockey Jonathan Ocasio while racing along the rail. Turning for home, she moved between Love Like Lucy and Canton before finding her path restricted as Love Like Lucy shifted outward under pressure.
Forced to switch course late in the stretch, Lennilu rallied gamely on the outside and crossed the line a neck behind the original winner before the placings were amended. Canton finished third, two and a half lengths adrift of the top pair.
“She’s just a fighter. She likes to fight. Even when you bump her, she keeps coming,” trainer Patrick Biancone said after the race. “She’s very brave. She’s 3-for-3 on the dirt and hopefully she can improve. I think when we go a bit longer, like seven furlongs, she’ll be better.”
Lennilu completed the six furlongs in 1:10.90, further strengthening her remarkable record at Gulfstream, where she has now won five times from as many appearances.
Ocasio praised the filly’s professionalism after navigating the troubled passage in the straight.
“She responded to everything. I just waited for the best moment and in the stretch I tried to do the best I could. It got a little close there, but we got it,” the rider said.
Love Like Lucy, ridden prominently by Nic Juarez, had been racing without blinkers for the first time since her previous meeting with Lennilu in last season’s FTBOA Susan’s Girl Stakes. Despite the disqualification, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. was encouraged by the performance.
“I thought there was pressure from both sides. You have to accept the decisions,” Joseph said. “She did run huge. It’s hard to see her run like that and get disqualified but there’s nothing you can do.”
The victory added another notable chapter to Lennilu’s already accomplished young career. The daughter of Leinster began her racing career with a dirt win at Keeneland before capturing the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies at Gulfstream. That success earned her a berth at Royal Ascot, where she finished third in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2).
Back in the United States, Lennilu returned to dirt to claim the Desert Vixen Stakes before later defeating male rivals in the Hollywood Beach Stakes on turf. Her 2026 season opened with victory in the Melody of Colors Stakes before a respectable fifth-place finish in the Limestone Stakes (G3) at Keeneland last month.
Biancone indicated that another Gulfstream target could await in the coming weeks, with bigger assignments potentially on the horizon should Lennilu continue her upward trajectory.
Saturday’s card also produced a standout riding performance from leading jockey Samy Camacho, who registered a riding treble aboard Operation Torch, Spy Novel and World Traveler.
Attention now shifts to Sunday’s programme at Gulfstream Park, where the Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is projected to reach $150,000 following five consecutive days without a unique winning ticket. The nine-race card features several competitive allowance contests, including appearances from Grade 3-placed veteran Mish and multiple stakes-winning mare Indy Bay.
The Lennilu Game Face Stakes win further established the filly as one of the most dependable young performers currently racing at Gulfstream Park, particularly on dirt, where she remains unbeaten.
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