John Velazquez won’t give a definitive answer on where Gamine (Into Mischief – Peggy Jane, Kafwain) ranks on the list of stars the Hall of Fame jumper has attached to over the years, but he’s come pretty close.
When asked how the championship sprinter stacked up in front of a long line of premium fillings he rode to Class I success, he replied, “She Definitely one of the top. Like definitely one or two, I would say. “
That response was full of praise from the two-time Eclipse Award-winning equestrian, who said he’d never forget Gamine’s competent walk or how she could take it easy. shifting gears when stretching.
“What I will always remember about Gamine is how powerful she was,” reflects Velazquez. “Her stride and everything she does is effortless. For a fast horse like her, she is also really kind. She has a great mind about her and she has a big heart. She will give you everything she can at any time. That’s what made her Gamine.”
Together, Gamine and Velazquez raced to five Class I victories, including record-setting wins at the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in Keeneland.
Now almost two years from that date, Gamine is carrying her first pony by Quality Sugar and in a few weeks she’ll be on sale at the Fasig-Tipton ‘Night of the Stars’ Sale. There she will be deposited at Xalapa by Hill ‘n’ Dale as Hips 289.
Gamine is no stranger to the Fasig-Tipton sales round. Glitzy Bay made her the first of many headlines there when she topped the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year Sale, selling to Michael Lund.
Fasig-Tipton’s Boyd Browning said: “Gamine has always been special to us since she flaunted it at the Timonium Sale. “She has one of the fastest companion winds, working an eighth of a mile in: 10 flat, but she looks like she’s galloping. She had a beautiful stride on her and beautiful mechanics. When you go back to the barn to meet her, she hasn’t changed a single hair. She had classes. She has elegance. I think we all know that she was ready to do something special in that round of sales. “
Bob Baffert can quickly recall his first meeting with Gamine at that sale. Side by side with agent Donato Lanni, it took the trainer less than 10 seconds to know he wanted the filthy animal in his cage.
“Very rarely do I have horses where I just look and see something magical in them,” says Baffert. “Gamine greeted me. I walked away and told Donato we needed to call Michael Lund, who just started a business, and tell him he needed to buy this crap. Michael said, “Oh, Bob, how far should I go?” And I was told that these fillings are hard to find. You stop when you own her. He stepped up and she went for $1.8 million. Unbelievable. “
Gamine quickly justified her selling price the following year when she completed a near-perfect second campaign, worthy of the Eclipse Award. One ‘Rising star TDN’ On debut, the beautiful girl passed the GI Acorn S. by nearly 19 lengths and the GI Test S. by seven before her spectacular Breeders’ Cup win.
Browning explains: “I think history will reflect the fact that Gamine’s 2020 racing campaign is one of those eras where you not only consider how she won, but how dominant, amazing she was. that she won. “She is a horse that when you look at her on the track, she gives you goosebumps. You know you’re watching something special when Gamine bursts in from the starting portal and joins the poetic motion she runs with. “
Just like the force counted at age four, Gamine added four more ranked wins to her record including GI Derby City Distaff S. and GI Ballerina H. She retired with just two losses in 11 the beginning of his career.
“Gamine is probably the nicest, smartest, kindest and most beautiful person I have ever trained,” her nurse said. “I always looked forward to watching her run because I knew she was going to ‘amaze us’ and that’s what she did.”
Browning says he believes one of the most remarkable aspects of Gamine’s career is that she’s fulfilled expectations every step of the way.
“The bar has always been set very high at the start for her and she has always exceeded those expectations, so I think she has the potential to do that as a broodmare as well,” he said. . “She definitely has a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Gamine has been part of the Fasig-Tipton team since she first walked through the sale and we are delighted and honored to have the opportunity to sell her by pony on behalf of Michael Lund in November. this. “
“She was the whole package,” Baffert said. “She is a talent of her generation. That’s what you need in this business. That’s why we always call her the Gamine Queen.”
