Michael Lund Petersen proved his $1.8 million spent for 3-year-old Gamine was well worth the blow to his checkbook when the filly obliterated her competition March 7 on debut at Santa Anita Park.
Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, the daughter of Into Mischief broke sharply in the 6 1/2-furlong maiden race and sprinted clear of the field.
Setting the pace just off the rail, Gamine clicked off fast fractions of :22.42 and :46.17 for the half-mile while slowly increasing her lead. The other three runners tried their best to catch the leader, but the effort was futile. Gamine crossed the wire 6 1/4 lengths in front and completed the test in 1:16.59 on a fast track.
The filly picked up $33,000 in earnings.
Gamine was purchased from Bobby Dodd's consignment to the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Her price was a record for the Maryland auction held after Preakness Stakes (G1) weekend. Gamine impressed from the start during the under tack show when she breezed an eighth-mile in :10 flat.
"When something good shows up, I solely rely on Bob," Petersen said at the time of sale. "If he thinks it's a good purchase and it's my turn, I'm going to buy them."
Bred in Kentucky by Grace Thoroughbred Holdings, Gamine is out of the Kafwain mare Peggy Jane and traces to Canadian champion turf horse Dynamic Sky. Loosely translated, Gamine is a colloquial French word for “little girl.”