Lion Lake Rallies Under Gaffalione to Upset Sister Troienne in G3 Herecomesthebride

Lion Lake (IRE), owned by Emcee Stable LLC and trained by Brendan Walsh, surged late under Tyler Gaffalione to upset heavy favorite Sister Troienne by a head in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park. The one-mile turf feature carried a $200,000 purse and was run as Gulfstream race six with a scheduled post time of 2:04 p.m. EST on Feb. 28, 2026.

Sister Troienne entered the Herecomesthebride as the marquee act, a Woodslane Farm homebred by Munnings trying to extend a perfect turf record to five wins in as many starts. TDN noted Sister Troienne came in off three straight stakes scores, including a 2 3/4-length victory over Spicy Princess and Brat Pack in the Sweetest Chant Stakes on Jan. 31, making her the clear odds-on choice in the field.

Lion Lake arrived at Gulfstream with less fanfare. Listed in Gulfstream park materials as a last-out 7 1/2-furlong maiden turf winner, the daughter of Dark Angel was “largely dismissed at 11-1” by Bloodhorse and returned $24.20 on the win payoff shown in race video and social posts. Trainer Brendan Walsh sent out the filly from post position 2 carrying 120 pounds on the TDN program while Gaffalione executed the closing run that produced the head victory.

The Herecomesthebride starting gate featured a deep cast of 3-year-old turf fillies that day. TDN’s published program listed Storm’s Wake on the rail with Oscar Performance, Brat Pack by Gun Runner, Bossy Candy by Candy Ride, Sapphire Beach by No Nay Never, Bert’s Knoty Girl by Mitole, Connect the Stars by Connect, and Spicy Princess by Tapit among the field, with jockeys including Rosario, Ruiz, Zayas, Velazquez, Lanerie, and Castellano named in the lineup and weights ranging from 120 to 122.

Social video and X coverage captured the dramatic finish, posting the line “An upset at Gulfstream Park as LION LAKE (IRE) ($24.20) caught the heavily favored Sister Troienne on the line in the $200,000.” The result reorders the early-season pecking order among 3-year-old turf fillies and hands Emcee Stable a graded stakes victory while leaving Sister Troienne’s connections to reassess a campaign that had targeted turf dominance.

Trainer Brendan Walsh’s role in the winner’s circle was noted in immediate reports: “Trainer Brendan Walsh enjoyed a big day at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 28, 2026, when Lion Lake (IRE) rallied under Tyler Gaffalione to upset heavy favorite Sister Troienne by a head in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf.” With the graded stakes calendar heating up, Lion Lake’s upset and Sister Troienne’s narrow defeat will factor into placement decisions for both fillies as Gulfstream and other spring stakes schedules unfold.