Gamine flawless in Great Lady M Stakes (G2)

Gamine and jockey John Velazquez win the Grade II, $200,000 Great Lady M Stakes, Monday, July 5, 2021 at Los Alamitos Race Course, Cypress CA.
© BENOIT PHOTO

Into Mischief’s champion filly Gamine dominated her competition in Monday’s $200,000 Great Lady M Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos, drawing off in the long stretch to win by 10 lengths in a near track-record performance.

The 4-year-old owned by Michael Petersen has won eight of her nine starts and earned $1,406,500.

Gamine showed her customary speed from the gate, with Edgeway in close pursuit through a quarter-mile in :21.61. Gamine began to pull away at the half-mile mark and then left the field far behind in the stretch to finish the 6 1/2-furlongs in 1:14.98, a half-second from the track record.

“That’s what great horses do,” trainer Bob Baffert said after the win. “When she runs I get nervous and I’m more relieved after the race. She looked great and I’m glad she came through.”

Gamine, who was last year’s Champion Female Sprinter, is undefeated this year, with wins in the Derby City Distaff (G1) and Las Flores S. (G3) prior to Monday’s win.

Baffert is considering longer distances for Gamine’s next race. “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.”

Into Mischief had a stellar Fourth of July weekend, with three stakes winners and another four stakes-placed horses. He leads the 2021 General Sires list in both categories, with 22 and 45, respectively.