Gamine a Standout in Great Lady M Field

Michael Lund Petersen's champion Gamine  will look for her fourth consecutive graded victory when she competes in the $200,000-guaranteed Great Lady M Stakes (G2) July 5 at Los Alamitos Race Course. Gamine is one of two entries from trainer Bob Baffert in the eight-horse field.

The Great Lady M, named for the multiple stakes winner of the late 1970s and dam of Hall of Famer Lady's Secret , pits older fillies and mares against each other at 6 1/2 furlongs. It goes as the eighth race on the nine-race card that closes the track's Summer Thoroughbred Festival. Post time is scheduled for 4:28 p.m. PDT.

Four-year-old Gamine brings a record of seven wins in eight starts over two seasons of racing. Last year the Kentucky-bred daughter of Into Mischief  —Peggy Jane, by Kafwain, captured the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), Longines Acorn Stakes (G1), and Longines Test Stakes (G1) and was voted the champion female sprinter. This year she is a perfect 2-for-2, with victories in the April 4 Las Flores Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park and the May 1 Derby City Distaff Stakes Presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (G1) at Churchill Downs.

Gamine's only loss came when she finished third behind Shedaresthedevil  and Swiss Skydiver  in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). She was subsequently disqualified for a medication violation.

John Velazquez, who has piloted Gamine in each of her stakes attempts, is named to ride from post 5.

Baffert has also entered Qahira , a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Cairo Prince   owned by the Baoma Corporation. Winner of the Jan. 10 Kalookan Queen Stakes, Qahira has placed in three graded stakes, including a second to Gamine in the Las Flores. Abel Cedillo will ride Qahira from post 3.

Into Mischief is also the sire of 5-year-old Candura , who joins the 4-year-old Competitive Edge   filly Edgeway  from trainer John Sadler's barn. Hronis Racing owns both distaffers.

Candura, who is out of the Candy Ride   mare Holloween Candy, started twice in 2018 with one victory and was off until this year. She has won two allowance optional claiming races at Oaklawn Park since her return. Candura drew the rail and has the services of Tyler Baze.

Edgeway, out of the Stormin Fever  mare Magical Solution, has won four races, with one second and one third. The second came in the 2020 Dogwood Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, and she most recently scored in the April 10 Carousel Stakes at Oaklawn. Edgeway, with Flavien Prat aboard from post 4, is going for her third consecutive victory.

"Edgeway's a very good filly—she's won four out of six," said Sadler. "We're hoping she's good enough to be in the big sprint races this year. We're building her résumé out."

Sadler noted that Candura had some injuries that together kept her away from the races for a long while.

"She was a filly that won at Del Mar as a 2-year-old," he said. "We kept her because we like that family a lot. She won off a long layoff and then won again."

Because Candura drew the rail, Sadler said he wasn't sure he would run her in the race. He pointed out that shipping difficulties nationwide this year are limiting options for trainers.

Bella Vita , a California-bred daughter of Bayern  , is making her graded stakes debut. She won the Feb. 21 Spring Fever Stakes against state-bred and California-sired company. Simon Callaghan trains Bella Vita for Kalem Shah, with Juan Hernandez riding from post 6.

Tommy Town Thoroughbreds' Dynasty of Her Own  seeks her first graded win in her second attempt. She won the 2020 California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields for trainer Jonathan Wong and most recently took an allowance race there May 20. Ricardo Gonzalez rides from post 2.

Rounding out the field are Eyes Open  (jockey Edwin Maldonado, post 7) and Road Rager  (jockey Jessica Pyfer, post 8). Dan Blacker trains Eyes Open for D K Racing, Radley Equine, Helen Alexander, and Ramona and Perry Bass II. Brian Koriner trains Road Rager, who has been away from the races since last September, for Jay Em Ess Stable.