Florida Fuego noses out Luzmimi Princess in Liza Jane Stakes

Florida Fuego finished with a rush to edge Luzmimi Princess by the smallest of margins in the $75,000 Liza Jane Stakes at Gulfstream Park Wednesday.

Florida Fuego paid $4.60 the favorite in the 6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-old fillies, which drew six horses.

Florida Fuego didn’t break that sharply and had one horse beat, Oola Gal, as Luzmimi Princess set the pace through a quarter-mile time of 22.35 seconds. It looked like Florida Fuego was stalled when she went wide around the turn, but with Tyler Gaffalione switching to a right hand whip she surged in the final sixteenth to edge Luzmimi Princess by a nose.

The margin was so small that it took longer than usual before she was declared the winner. Luzmimi Princess broke sharply from the outside post and opened up a clear lead, with Writer’s Almanac putting pressure on her at the half-mile mark. After disposing of the threat from Writer’s Almanac she appeared to have the race won before coming up just short. Writer’s Almanac held on to finish third.

A David Hawkes-trained daughter of Kantharos, Florida Fuego posted a final time of 1:18.26. She races for e Five Racing Thoroughbreds.