Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. kissed Love Like Lucy on the nose before she stepped onto the Gulfstream Park track on Thursday morning. There was no crowd, no roar of applause yet — just the quiet confidence of a team that believes this filly could be something special.
“She’s got the heart,” Joseph said softly, watching the filly’s powerful strides in the dawn light. “You see it in her eyes. She wants to run.”
On Saturday, the striking two-year-old filly will get her biggest test yet as she lines up for the $100,000 Desert Vixen Stakes 2025 at Gulfstream Park, stepping up into stakes company after an impressive debut victory last month.
A Rising Star with Big Shoes to Fill
Owned by MyRacehorse, Thoroughbred Acquisition Group, and Miller Racing, Love Like Lucy already carries a story worth telling. Purchased for $300,000 at the OBS Spring Sale, she has lived up to her price tag so far, breaking her maiden in style on August 8 with a commanding 1 Âľ-length victory under jockey Edgard Zayas.
The filly, by Grade 1 winner Win Win Win and out of Just Like Lucy, was bred in Florida by Brereton C. Jones. On Saturday, she returns to the same six-furlong trip where she announced herself to the racing world.
Joseph, who trained last year’s Desert Vixen winner R Morning Brew, believes the filly has plenty more to offer.
“She got into a pace duel last time,” he explained. “She was passed, but she fought back — that’s rare for a first-time starter. That’s the sign of a special horse.”
The Desert Vixen Stakes 2025 Challenge
The Desert Vixen Stakes 2025 headlines Gulfstream’s 11-race card, alongside the $100,000 Dr. Fager Stakes. Both races mark the opening leg of the $1.2 million Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes Series for juveniles by accredited Florida stallions.
Love Like Lucy will break from the outside Post 7, a position Joseph considers ideal.
“She’s versatile,” he said. “She can sit off the pace if she needs to, but most likely she’ll be forward again. She’s got the speed, and she’s learning fast.”
A Season of High Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Saturday’s action also kicks off Gulfstream’s 36-day Fall Sunshine Meet, which runs through November 23. A total of 18 stakes worth $1.695 million are on the calendar, including future highlights like the $200,000 Princess Rooney (G3) and the $1.2 million Florida Sire Stakes Series finale.
For Joseph, who has already captured 13 consecutive Gulfstream meet titles, this meet represents another chance to showcase his stable’s strength.
“It’s special,” he admitted. “I’m grateful to the owners and the team. We’ve worked hard to be here, and we want to keep building.”
For the full race preview and the latest updates, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.
To explore the complete race schedule and event details, visit the Gulfstream Park Official Website.
