Champion Gamine Retired; Will Reside at Hill 'n' Dale

Gamine , the champion female sprinter of 2020 and a likely finalist for the award in 2021, has been retired, according to a press release distributed by a representative for her owner.

Exceptionally quick, the Bob Baffert-trained Gamine won nine of 11 starts and more than $1.7 million for owner Michael Lund Petersen. The daughter of Into Mischief   either set or came close to track records on several occasions. In winning the 2020 Longines Acorn Stakes (G1) by 18 3/4 lengths at Belmont Park, she blitzed a mile in 1:32.55, not far off Najran 's track record of 1:32.24, set in 2003. Also in 2020, she won the seven-furlong Longines Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course in a stakes record 1:20.83 and ran the same distance in taking the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland in a track record 1:20.20.

Her only two losses came in the 2020 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs and in her title defense in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar. In each case, she crossed wire the third, though Kentucky stewards ultimately disqualified her from the Oaks and placed her last after test results showed the prohibited race-day presence of betamethasone. 

In her final start two months ago in the Filly & Mare Sprint, she led for a half-mile before she was passed by Ce Ce  and Edgeway  in the stretch.

At age 5, her connections felt she had little left to prove. 

"Gamine is the best filly sprinter I have ever trained," Baffert said in the release. "She defines greatness. She's a big, beautiful, elegant filly. She was all class. We knew we had something very special right from the start."

Gamine's other top-level victories include the seven-furlong Derby City Distaff Stakes Presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (G1) at Churchill Downs last spring and the Ketel One Ballerina Handicap (G1) last summer at Saratoga. She also romped in the Great Lady M. Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos Race Course and Las Flores Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park last year.

Gamine came to the racetrack with high expectations after agent Donato Lanni purchased her on behalf of Petersen for a record $1.8 million from Bobby Dodd's consignment at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

"I was hoping it wouldn't go that high but we had Bob on the phone and he thought it was still a good idea, so that's why we decided to buy her," Petersen told BloodHorse at the sale. "When something good shows up, I solely rely on Bob. If he thinks it's a good purchase and it's my turn, I'm going to buy them.

"I don't know enough about horses to spend $1.8 million, I can tell you that. I need a little bit of advice. What can I say? I'm still a little excited about spending that much money in five seconds." 

Bred in Kentucky by Grace Thoroughbred Holdings, she is out of the stakes-placed Kafwain  mare Peggy Jane , who has two winners from four starters. Peggy Jane also has three unraced foals: a 3-year-old Ghostzapper   filly named Lady Eveline, a 2-year-old Kantharos   colt, and an Into Mischief   yearling colt. 

"Gamine is leaving the track happy and healthy. She gave me and my family the thrill of a lifetime," said Petersen. "We look forward to her next chapter."

Gamine will reside at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa near Paris, Ky.