Great Majestic tries Florida turf in Miss Patty Handicap

Great Majestic has come home. The Florida-bred filly will make her first start in her home state Saturday at Gulfstream Park in the $60,000 Miss Patty Handicap. Great Majestic has invaded from Louisiana for the 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies. She enters off back-to-back wins at Fair Grounds and Evangeline Downs for Farm D’Allie Racing.

“The owner decided to bring her here, decided to put her in my barn for this race,” said trainer Jose Garoffalo. “She’s still thinking about leaving her in Florida. They don’t have too many options where they’re stabled in Louisiana.”

Great Majestic is part of a competitive seven-horse cast for the Miss Patty Handicap. The group also includes Cosmic Harmony, a three-time winner facing less-experienced rivals, and Eminencia, a Group 3 winner in Panama who will be making her first start on Lasix.

Key contenders

Great Majestic (Last 3 Beyers: 71-70-68)

* She has run well on yielding and firm turf and on the main track.

* Garoffalo said Great Majestic got to his barn Wednesday. “She’s a good-looking filly, very smart,” he said. “She’s been showing me class.”

* Great Majestic is a daughter of Majestic Warrior bred by Kinsman Farm. Her dam, Great Humor, is a half-sister to Silk Concorde, a two-time stakes winner in Florida, including the Susan’s Girl division of the Florida Stallion Stakes.

“If the owner decides to leave her here, we have a good program for Florida-breds,” Garoffalo said. “She’s shown she has some class, and she might be a top cookie here in the summer.”

* Great Majestic has used off-the-pace tactics in both her wins and will get a bit more ground Saturday with the move from a mile to 1 1/16 miles.

* Eddie Castro has the mount from post 2.

Cosmic Harmony (Last 3 Beyers: 75-68-77)

* She boasts more wins than any of her rivals, with three from 10 starts.

* Cosmic Harmony won an optional $75,000 claimer at this distance on turf May 23 at Gulfstream in her last out.

* She is one of the best-bred runners in the field as a half-sister to Distilled, winner of the Grade 2 Illinois Derby, and Three Wonders, winner of the Grade 3 Kent Breeders’ Cup.

* Jose Caraballo has the mount for co-owner and trainer Jose Pinchin.