Gamine Unchallenged in Great Lady M Romp
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Gamine wins the Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos Racecourse
Heavily-favored Gamine added to her glowing resume with a 10-length romp in the $200,000 Great Lady M Stakes (G2) July 5—the final day of the Summer Thoroughbred Festival—at Los Alamitos Race Course.
The 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief entered Monday's contest off three consecutive graded stakes scores dating back to her tour de force triumph in November's 2020 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1). Gamine rolled to front-running victories this year in the April 4 Las Flores Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park and the Derby City Distaff Stakes Presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (G1) on Derby Day at Churchill Downs.
The Great Lady M proved to be another gate to wire effort as the 1-5 choice in the field of five rocketed out of the gate under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez and clicked off opening fractions of :21.61 and :44.32. Headed briefly to her inside by 3-1 second choice Edgeway nearing the turn, Gamine shook off her opponent and stormed down under little encouragement from Velazquez.
The bay stopped the timer in 1:14.98 for the 6 1/2 furlongs, two ticks off the Los Alamitos track record.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for owner Michael Lund Petersen, Gamine is now 8-for-9 with earnings of $1,406,500. Six of her victories have come in graded events.
Gamine paid $2.40 and $2.10 in a race where there was no show wagering. She attracted $248,224 of the $292,855 wagered to place in the Great Lady M, creating a minus place pool of $33,822.
Bella Vita , the second longest shot in the field at 22-1, edged Road Rager , the longest price on the board at 45-1, by a neck for second.
Edgeway and Qahira , who is also trained by Baffert, completed the order of finish. Candura, Dynasty of Her Own and Eyes Open were scratched earlier in the day.
"It was nice to see a lot of people come to the paddock to get a good luck at her,'' said Baffert, who won the Great Lady M for the fourth time after scoring previously with Fantastic Style (2015) and Marley's Freedom (2018-2019).
"That's what great horses do. When she runs I get nervous and I'm more relieved after the race. She looked great and I'm glad she came through.
"She might be able to stretch out. She's getting older and more mature. That's one option I've been thinking about, but I don't know what we'll do next. I want to see how she comes out of this and I'll let her tell me.''
Velazquez, who has been aboard for all of Gamine's graded successes, said of the filly: "I know she's quick and the other horse (third place finisher Road Rager) showed speed and I knew the horse to beat (Edgeway) was inside of me,'' he said. "She relaxed and I let her do her thing around the turn and that was it from there.''
Bred by Grace Thoroughbred Holding, Gamine is the second winner produced from her dam, Peggy Jane. The Kafawain mare has an unraced juvenile filly by Ghostzapper , a yearling Katharos colt, and produced a full brother to Gamine this past season.
The wealth was spread during the two racing weeks as 38 different trainers and 50 different owner/partnerships won the 61 races offered.
"I see it as a positive so many different connections were able to win races during the meet,'' said F. Jack Liebau, vice president of the Los Alamitos Racing Association. "I believe it is important for the health of racing in California that some owners and trainers enjoy more success at Los Alamitos than either Santa Anita or Del Mar.''
All sources handle for the meet, was up around 10% over comparable dates in 2019, the last time spectators were permitted to attend. Complete mutuel handle numbers will be available in the coming days.
According to Liebau, the increase exceeded expectations for the season and was fueled substantially by advance deposit wagering.
Daytime thoroughbred racing will return to Los Alamitos in September.