HALLANDALE BEACH - Luna West showed the way from start to finish to capture the 2022 season’s first race for 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park Thursday, graduating at 37-1 in the 4 ½-furlong, $55,000 maiden special weight race carded on the opening day program of the Spring/Summer Royal Palm Meet. She paid $76.20 as the highest price on the tote board.

    Saddled by Jose Garoffalo, the daughter of Gone Astray burst from the starting gate to show her heels to her six rivals, including four colts, along the backstretch and around the far turn.  Cajun Hope, a son of Cajun Breeze who went to post at the 4-5 favorite, made a determined bid on the turn into the homestretch and in the run through the lane but fell a half-length short of victory.

   “I’ve had this filly for two weeks now. She’s always shown maturity since the beginning,” Garoffalo said.

    Luna West, who is owned by Lina Yanet Aristizabal Lopez, prepared for her debut at Nelson Jones Farm and Training Center in Ocala before joining Garoffalo at Gulfstream.

    Luna West ran the 4 ½ furlongs in :53.24 seconds under Joe Alonso to earn a check for $31,000. Cajun Hope, who was ridden by Angel Arroyo, finished four lengths clear of third-place finisher Awesome Flay. comments powered by Disqus