Gamine works 'brilliantly' at Del Mar in advance of Kentucky Oaks

It has become commonplace for Gamine to produce “wow” moments during her time on the racetrack. Saturday was no different for the daughter of Into Mischief as she put in her last serious move in advance of her run in the 2020 Kentucky Oaks on Friday.

With her Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert watching on, Gamine was on her game during her six-furlong work at Del Mar Saturday, covering the distance in 1:11.60 in her usual impressive fashion. 

Working in company with Quality Response, Gamine flaunted the same turn of foot that carried her to Grade 1 wins in the Acorn Stakes and Test Stakes as she drew clear of her partner in the lane continued on with authority around the turn.

Clocker Toby Turrell had interim splits of :24.40, :36.60 and :59.40 and commented she “exploded brilliantly.”  Quality Response, a 3-year-old stakes-winning filly, was timed in :48.00 for a half-mile.

“She’s getting stronger and stronger, she’s more mature now,” Baffert said of the expected Kentucky Oaks favorite. “These races have really helped her. She’s just more professional. There were some horses in front of her today, and she took dirt, she handled everything really well. She’s coming in really strong, I’m really happy with her.”

Owned by Michael Lund Petersen, Gamine has yet to be beaten on the square in her four career starts. She followed up her 18¾-length victory in the one-mile Acorn with a seven-length triumph in the Aug. 8 Test at Saratoga Race Course. The only blemish on her resume came when she was disqualified from her victory in an allowance optional claiming race at Oaklawn Park on May 2 due to an excessive amount of the legal medication Lidocaine.

Gamine is scheduled to arrive with her stablemates from the Baffert barn Monday on a flight from Southern California to Louisville.