Gamine

Last year’s runaway $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) winner Gamine is on track to defend her title at Del Mar this November.

She has returned with a splash as a 4-year-old with victories in the Derby City Distaff Stakes presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (G1) and Ketel One Ballerina Handicap (G1) to lead the way.

A $1.8 million 2-year-old purchase, Gamine has more than lived up to the expectations that came with that price tag in her two seasons of racing. The filly has won nine of her 10 starts, including five Grade 1 victories and took home champion female sprinter honors last year.

“You always dream about if you get a good horse, but if you add up the numbers, there are people who are so much more involved in the horse business than I am and buy so many more horses, said owner Michael Lund Peterson to The BloodHorse on Jan. 28, 2021. “That I would be blessed to have a once-in-a-lifetime horse like that, I'm just grateful. What can I say? I'm just enjoying the ride."

Gamine gave her owner his first Breeders’ Cup win after two previous tries with her 6 ¼-length romp in track-record time. Gamine is one of five Breeders’ Cup winners for her sire, Into Mischief. The filly helped her sire hit multiple milestones with last year’s victory.  She was his second Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner in two years following Covfefe, and one of two 2020 Breeders’ Cup winners for the stallion alongside Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Authentic.

If Gamine wins a second Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, she will join 2012 and 2013 winner Groupie Doll as the only two dual winners of the race since it first ran in 2007.