Gulfstream Park announced Friday that Lennilu secured her Royal Ascot invitation with a commanding victory in the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes. The Leinster filly, who previously defeated subsequent winners Kadabra and Chambourcin in her April 6 Keeneland debut, delivered a 3 3/4-length triumph in her stakes and turf debut.
The Patrick Biancone trainee, sent off as the 4-5 favorite in a field of 11, overcame an early bump with Satisfied Mind before taking command in the stretch under jockey Luis Saez. Her victory earns connections an automatic berth to their choice of six juvenile races at June’s Royal Ascot Meeting, including a $25,000 travel stipend.
“Luis loved her from the day he rode her at Keeneland. He said he wanted to ride her at Ascot and I said, ‘Easy, we have to do one stop at Gulfstream first,'” said Biancone. “She’s a machine. She’s very relaxed. She traveled to Keeneland, it was bad weather. She shed-rowed two days, jogged one day and ran like a monster. The father [Leinster] was a very good sprinter on turf so I had a lot of confidence in her coming into this race. The plan all along was to get to Ascot. That’s why so many partners joined in for that trip.”
Saez expressed confidence in the filly’s abilities following the win.
“She’s a very nice filly. She broke from there well [and] put herself in a good position,” said Saez. “At the top of the stretch she was a little green first time on turf, but she’s got a lot of ability. I had a lot of horse at the end. I was pretty confident after I rode at Keeneland. She won that race very professionally. I had a lot of horse left that day, too. Now I’m looking forward to going to Ascot. That’s why we came here today.”
Lennilu completed the five furlongs on firm turf in :56.99, defeating the rallying first-time starter Bibi Dahl, with Strada Del Sogno finishing third.
The winner represents a significant milestone for freshman sire Leinster (Majestic Warrior), becoming his first stakes winner. Leinster, who set a course record over 5 1/2 furlongs on Keeneland turf in the 2020 GII Shakertown Stakes and later placed third in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, has sired two early-season winners.
Squire, Leinster’s other winner who captured an April 18 maiden at Gulfstream on the main track, competed in the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes later on Saturday’s card.
Lennilu’s dam, Lulu’s Pom Pom, is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Disco Partner, who earned $1,487,560 during his career. The dam has not produced a foal since Lennilu and was bred to Magic On Tap for this term.
The $23,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed yearling purchase has now earned $81,615 from her perfect 2-for-2 record for owners Amy & Caitlin Dunne, Brenda Miley, Jean Wilkinson, Hoffman Family Racing LLC, Tranquility Lake Farm LLC, and Maury & Christopher K. Harrington.
Bibi Dahl, a $1,350,000 Keeneland September yearling by American Pharoah, finished second in her debut for Amo Racing USA and trainer Jorge Delgado. Strada Del Sogno, a $25,000 Keeneland September purchase, ran third for Sport of Kings Racing Partners LLC & Nelson Soracco.
LENNILU ($3.60) won with ease in the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes at @GulfstreamPark. She stamped her ticket to @Ascot for trainer Patrick Biancone (@andie_biancone) and jockey @luissaezpty. Congrats to the connections of the 2YO Leinster (@PleasantAcresSt) filly. pic.twitter.com/MNYQ2a43GL
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing)
LENNILU ($3.60) won with ease in the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes at May 10, 2025
