Lennilu, the talented two-year-old filly, has earned her spot at one of the most prestigious events in the racing world, Royal Ascot, after an impressive victory in the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies at Gulfstream Park. The race, which took place this past Saturday, was a key event for young fillies, with the winner earning an automatic entry into the renowned Royal Ascot meeting in June, along with a $25,000 travel stipend.
Lennilu, trained by Patrick Biancone, showed her strength and determination in a race where she faced some early challenges. Despite a bumpy start, she quickly recovered and surged forward, winning by 3 ¾ lengths under the guidance of jockey Luis Saez. The victory marked her second race, following a solid debut victory at Keeneland earlier this month. Biancone, who has been optimistic about Lennilu’s potential from the beginning, spoke confidently about her ability to perform on the international stage. “As long as she stays healthy, we’re aiming for Royal Ascot,” Biancone commented. “I don’t see any reason why that won’t happen.”
The Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies was a sprint over five furlongs on the turf, a distance that suited Lennilu’s racing style. The filly completed the race in 56.99 seconds, crossing the finish line with ease. Saez, who had ridden Lennilu to victory at Keeneland, was full of praise for the young filly’s talent. He noted that, although she was a bit green at times, she showed immense potential and had plenty of energy left by the end of the race. “She’s a very nice filly,” Saez said. “She’s got a lot of ability, and after riding her at Keeneland, I’m confident she’ll do well at Ascot.”
The victory also earned Lennilu’s connections, including owners Amy Dunne, Caitlin Dunne, Brenda Miley, and others, an exciting opportunity to compete at Royal Ascot, a meeting that has become a bucket-list destination for racing enthusiasts worldwide. For Biancone and the team, this victory is a major step forward in their plans to take Lennilu to the prestigious event, which has become a key goal for the filly’s owners.
Looking ahead, the team is hopeful that Lennilu will follow in the footsteps of Crimson Advocate, the 2023 winner of the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies, who went on to claim the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot last year. Biancone remains cautiously optimistic, acknowledging that while Lennilu is still a young filly, she has shown the talent and temperament needed to succeed on the big stage. “She’s still learning, but she’s got a lot of potential,” he said.
Lennilu’s victory is a promising sign of what’s to come for the young filly as she continues to mature and gain experience. With Royal Ascot on the horizon, the racing world will be watching closely to see if she can deliver on the big stage in June.
