By Stefanie Grimm
In her second start since topping the 2025 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale at a cool $3.7-million, Lush Lips (Ire) brought her winning streak to three in a row Saturday, capturing the GIII Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream Park in her first run against older fillies and mares.
Debuted initially in her native Ireland, Saturday's 8-5 favorite really found her footing once shipped to Brendan Walsh's operation in late 2024. She's never been off the board since that maiden-breaking score at Gulfstream, winning five of eight starts and finishing runner up in the other three. Second in her first Grade I attempt in the GI Del Mar Oaks Aug. 25, Lush Lips went one better back at Keeneland in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Oct. 11. Dixiana Farms paid that sales-topping $3.7-million to acquire the filly at Keeneland and she rewarded their efforts with a win in the GII Mrs Revere Stakes Nov. 28.
Making her seasonal debut Saturday, the outside-drawn filly was sharp from the gate but opted to settle back as inside speed went forward into the first turn. Fifth on the run up the backstretch, Tyler Gaffalione kept his mount clear as Classic Q (Classic Empire) pulled on the lead through fractions of :23.79 and :48.18. Briefly on the back foot into the far turn, Lush Lips had some ground to make up as the leaders began to sprint but more than enough class to close that gap as she swung four wide into the stretch.
Classic Q was cruising with less than a sixteenth to run but the closers were coming and none faster than the favorite who ate into the deficit just in time to get the win.
Pedigree Note:
One of 13 stakes winners for young stallion Ten Sovereigns, Lush Lips is out of a winning Arcano (Ire) mare who last sold for just €28,000 at Goffs in 2016. From seven foals, five had made the races and two have won with her other winner being her 2018 filly Kestenna (GB) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}). Lamyaa (GB) herself is a half to German MGSW Electric Beat (GB) (Shinko Forest {Ire}) and to the dam of both GSW/G1SP Melo Melo (GB) (Gleneaglers {Ire}) and MGSW Treasuring (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}). Lamyaa has a 2-year-old Harry Angel (Ire) colt and a yearling Ten Sovereigns colt still to represent her.
The newest millionaire is #9 LUSH LIPS ($5.40) who made her 4yo debut a winning one by rallying late to win the $175,000 Honey Fox Stakes presented by @MyRacehorse (G3) at @GulfstreamPark . @Tyler_Gaff was up for @brenpwals. Dixiana Farms owns. pic.twitter.com/6QfncNaCAK
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 28, 2026
Saturday, Gulfstream Park
HONEY FOX S. PRESENTED BY MYRACEHORSE-GIII, $150,000, Gulfstream, 2-28, 4yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:33.71, fm.
1–LUSH LIPS (GB), 124, f, 4, by Ten Sovereigns (Ire)
1st Dam: Lamyaa (GB), by Arcano (Ire)
2nd Dam: Divine Grace (Ire), by Definite Article (GB)
3rd Dam: Grey Patience (Ire), by Common Grounds (GB)
(£82,000 Ylg '23 GOFFUK; $3,700,000 3yo '25 KEENOV). O-Dixiana Farms LLC; B-The Pocock Family (GB); T-Brendan P. Walsh; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $91,140. Lifetime Record: GISW, 12-6-4-0, $1,007,900. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Classic Q, 122, f, 4, Classic Empire–Lovely Em, by Scat Daddy. ($40,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Gary Barber, Blue Crevalle Racing and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Winning Bloodstock (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. $29,400.
3–Silver Moonlight, 122, m, 5, Liam's Map–Neck of the Moon, by More Than Ready. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($150,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $300,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-C2 Racing Stable, LLC; B-Dell Ridge Farm, LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.. $14,700.
Margins: 3/4, NK, 1HF. Odds: 1.70, 8.80, 8.60.
Also Ran: Crevalle d'Oro, Movin' On Up, Public Defender, Souper Zonda. Scratched: Fantastic Flame, Gata Brazil, Queens Command (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
