Luna West wires field in first Gulfstream juvenile race

The honor of getting the first 2-year-old winner of 2022 in Florida goes to Gone Astray, whose daughter, Luna West, wired a seven-horse field that included four colts in yesterday’s second race at Gulfstream Park, a $55,000 maiden special at 4 1/2 furlongs. To be eligible for the race, each entrant had to have already reached their actual birth date. Luna West’s is March 29.

With just two listed morning trials at the Nelson Jones Training Center – both of 38 seconds breezing – the filly bred by Long Trail Stable was sent off at 37-1, highest price on the tote board. But she rocketed out of the gate under Jose Alonso, pushed along by 4/5 favorite Cajun Hope, retained the lead through fractions of :21.55 and :46.05, and paid $76.20.

In the stretch, the favorite closed the gap late, but fell short at the wire by half a length; it was another four lengths back to the third-place finisher. The victory, achieved in :53.24, was worth $31,000 and helped Gone Astray pass the $500,000 mark in seasonal progeny earnings.