Brilliance expected from Gamine in Derby City Distaff
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bob Baffert has a horse entered in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, but he says he’ll have more anxiety several hours earlier in the day when he saddles heavily favored Gamine in the Grade 1, $300,000 Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs.
“I get so nervous when she runs,” Baffert said. “She’s so freaking good, she’s supposed to win.”
Yes, she’s supposed to win the Derby City Distaff in which she’ll face only five rivals in the seven-furlong race that for years was known as the Humana Distaff. Gamine, who additionally looms the lone speed, is 1-5 on the morning line.
Gamine, a daughter of Into Mischief owned by Michael Lund Petersen, is the reigning champion female sprinter. As a 3-year-old, she won the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont by 18 3/4 lengths and the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga by seven. She ended her 3-year-old season with a dominant 6 1/4-length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
The only blemish on her record is the Kentucky Oaks, where she finished third attempting 1 1/8 miles around two turns. She was later disqualified from purse money for testing positive for a banned substance.
“The two turns, she’s just not comfortable with it,” said Baffert, who later in the day will saddle Medina Spirit in the Kentucky Derby. “I think those turns slow her down, you can’t let them rip around there. At one turn, she’s just so brilliant.”
Gamine began her 4-year-old season with a facile, front-running, four-length victory under John Velazquez in the Grade 3 Las Flores at Santa Anita on April 4.
“It was nice. She probably didn’t need it, I gave her a race,” Baffert said. “I told Johnny please don’t win by too much, just get her tightened down.”
Gamine will break from post 4 under co-high weight of 123 pounds.
Bell’s the One, who won last year’s Derby City Distaff, also is carrying 123 pounds. She finished third behind Gamine in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and, in her first start this year, finished in a dead heat for second with Estilo Talentoso, both three-quarters of a length behind Kimari in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland.
Neil Pessin, who trains Bell’s the One, considered entering his mare in the Churchill Downs Stakes against the boys. But with that race coming up a large field, Pessin decided to enter in here and take his chances against Gamine.
“I’m excited to beat her, although she’s going to have an easy lead, there’s no one to run with her,” Pessin said. “Hopefully, we can come mow her down anyway. If not, I’ll be second.”
Corey Lanerie rides Bell’s the One from post 3.
Hibiscus Punch, at 41-1, and Estilo Talentoso, at 18-1, finished first and second in the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie Handicap on Feb. 20 at Laurel Park. Hibiscus Punch has not raced since and only shows three works for her return.
Unique Factor, whose lone win from 11 starts in 2020 came in an allowance here last June, and Sconsin, winner of the Grade 2 Eight Belles here last September, complete the field.
The Derby City Distaff will go as race 7 (1:56 p.m. Eastern).