Baffert to Unveil Sale-Topper Gamine at Santa Anita

Considering all the 3-year-old colts in Bob Baffert's barn, he may seem a little light on fillies this year. But the Southern California-based trainer has one sophomore filly with major potential up his sleeve.

Michael Lund Petersen's Gamine is scheduled to take to the track March 7 in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden test for fillies and mares, 3 and older, at Santa Anita Park in the sixth race.

The Into Mischief  filly comes into her debut off a string of quick works, the latest of which was a :46 2/5 half-mile March 2. She also posted a six-furlong work in 1:12 4/5 Feb. 23.

Gamine was purchased by Petersen for $1.8 million from Bobby Dodd's consignment to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, where the filly breezed an eighth-mile in :10 flat. Bred in Kentucky by Grace Thoroughbred Holdings, the sale-topper is out of the Kafwain mare Peggy Jane and traces back to Canadian champion turf horse Dynamic Sky. 

Gamine has been assigned morning-line odds of 3-5 and will leave post 3 in the field of four with Drayden Van Dyke.

Baffert has also entered the second choice with Reem, a Danza  filly who finished third in her Jan. 20 debut at Santa Anita. Patrick Gallagher-trained Miss Addie Pray will also be making her debut, and Anna Meah-trained Majestic Blend rounds out the field.

Santa Anita's second race is the male version of the same 6 1/2-furlong maiden test. It features a field of nine and has a few of note, also from the Baffert barn. 

Debuting American Code, the morning-line favorite at odds of 2-1, is an American Pharoah  half brother to grade 3 winner Stratford Hill out of grade 1-winning Harmony Lodge. His stablemate is the unraced Giant's Causeway colt Beachcombing, a $500,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase by agent Ben Glass for Gary and Mary West.

Also making his debut is Believe Now. Trained by Michael McCarthy, the colt was a $1.4 million Keeneland September purchase and races for Mr. and Mrs. William Warren Jr.

To the east, Liam's Pride, a Liam's Map  half brother to grade 1 winner and late sire Morning Line, will make his fourth start for trainer Doug O'Neill in Oaklawn Park's fourth race Saturday. Gulfstream Park's race 8 also features sophomore maidens of interest in Bear Alley, Silver Maker, and favored Don Bourbon.