Garoffalo gets his shot with Luzmimi Princess

MIAMI – Although he originally helped pick Luzmimi Princess out at the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale, it was not until midway through this past summer that Jose Garoffalo was given the opportunity to train the speedy filly for her owners, Grupo 7C Racing Stable.

Garoffalo will finally get to run Luzmimi Princess for the first time in Friday’s optional-claiming feature at Gulfstream Park West. The $47,000 six-furlong dash drew only six fillies and mares.

Luzmimi Princess showed promise right off the bat with her original trainer, Gustavo Delgado, winning her maiden in her second start by 8 3/4 lengths last November at Gulfstream Park West. She has not won again, although she did finish in a dead heat for first under allowance conditions this spring at Gulfstream Park only to be disqualified and placed second for causing interference in the stretch run.

Luzmimi Princess was transferred to Garoffalo’s barn at Gulfstream on Aug. 1. She has had four works in her new surroundings, including a brilliant half-mile in 46.22 seconds on Aug. 31 under Paco Lopez, who rides her Friday.

“She’s doing really well,” Garoffalo said. “She was a little anxious when she came here, and we’ve been working on getting her to relax in the morning. Paco worked her last time and got her to slow down early and finish real well, and I think he’ll get along with her real well in the afternoon as well. I’ll leave everything in his hands when the gates open on Friday. I think the fact she’s already shown she likes this track should be to her advantage.”

Luzmimi Princess will see a familiar face Friday in Silver Bay. Luzmimi Princess was second and Silver Bay was fourth behind Florida Fuego in the Liza Jane overnight stakes June 6 at Gulfstream.

Silver Bay was an instant success here during the fall of her 2-year-old campaign, launching her career with back-to-back victories, including a hard-fought neck decision over two-time Florida Sire Stakes winner Starship Bonita in the Juvenile Fillies Sprint Stakes. Silver Bay has started only three times since, all against stakes company. She ran eighth in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks on March 31, was fourth in the Liza Jane, and sixth when trying turf for the first time in the one-mile Martha Washington Stakes on July 7 at Gulfstream.

“We took a big swing at the Gulfstream Park Oaks, she came out of the race really sick, and we’ve been battling that ever since,” trainer Bill Hickey said. “I think she’s back to where she needs to be now, and she’s a major horse for the course. She does not ship well, so giving her a chance back on her home course again should really move her up. She didn’t run badly last time on the turf, but she probably doesn’t want to go that far. This race is much more what she wants to do.”

Whip Me Into Shape comes off a win and a second, earning Beyer Speed Figures of 78 and 80, which are easily the best recent numbers of anyone in this field.