Churchill Downs | Horse Racing Free Tips

Gamine All The Way in Derby City Distaff

Maybe it wasn't the electric performance that everyone was expecting, but nonetheless, 'TDN Rising Star' Gamine (Into Mischief) added her fourth career top-level win in game fashion in Saturday's GI Derby City Distaff S. at Churchill Downs.

Hammered into 1-5 favoritism, last year's champion female sprinter bobbled slightly beneath Johnny Velazquez at the start. Undeterred, she recovered quickly to show the way through surprisingly easy opening fractions of :23.15 and :46.08 while traveling several paths off the inside down the backstretch.

Last year's GII Eight Belles S. heroine Sconsin (Include) made a menacing four-wide move approaching the quarter pole and it briefly appeared that Gamine could be in deep water as she cornered wide. The $1.8-million EASMAY topper showed her class down the lane, however, racing down the center of the course, to repel that foe by 1 1/2 lengths and provide Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert with a record 220th Grade I victory.

“I didn't know I was that close to the record until a month ago,” Baffert said. “To do it here on this big day is very special. I'm just happy for Gamine. She got the job done. I told Johnny that this was the first time she's run before a crowd. She was looking around. So many things can go wrong, but once I saw her down the backside, I knew we were in the clear.”

Velazquez added, “She didn't get the break I hoped for but she bounced back really quickly and ran really easy in the early going. She showed what a champion she was and I was very proud of my filly.”

Gamine's championship season in 2020 included jaw-dropping wins in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint versus older fillies and mares at Keeneland, the GI Longines Acorn S. at Belmont and GI Longines Test S. at Saratoga. She kicked off her 4-year-old season with a facile win over three rivals in Santa Anita's GIII Las Flores S. Apr. 4.

Third across the wire as the favorite after setting the pace in last year's GI Kentucky Oaks–the lone blemish on her record (now that an Oaklawn DQ was overturned last month)–she was subsequently disqualified from the purse money for a medication positive.

Pedigree Notes:

Gamine is one of nine Grade I/94 black-type/40 graded winners for superstar sire Into Mischief.

The flashy bay topped the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old sale, bringing $1.8 million. Purchased by Brad Grady's Grand Oaks for $220,000 at Keeneland September as a yearling, she blossomed into a seven-figure juvenile after breezing in :10 flat for Bobby Dodd in Timonium.

Gamine is out of the stakes-placed mare Peggy Jane (Kafwain) and hails from the family of Canadian champion Dynamic Sky (Sky Mesa). Peggy Jane is also responsible for the unraced 3-year-old colt Splashtown (Speightstown) ($300,000 FTKOCT yearling purchase by Frankie Brothers), a 2-year-old filly by Ghostzapper; a yearling colt by Kantharos; and an Into Mischief colt of this year.

Peggy Jane, a two-time winner, was a $200,000 OBS April 2-year-old purchase by Barbara Banke's Grace Stables in 2011.

Broodmare sire Kafwain is responsible for nine stakes/four graded winners, including Grade I winner Paola Queen (Flatter).

Saturday, Churchill Downs
DERBY CITY DISTAFF S. PRESENTED BY KENDALL-JACKSON WINERY-GI, $500,000, Churchill Downs, 5-1, 4yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:21.50, ft.
1–GAMINE, 123, f, 4, by Into Mischief
               1st Dam: Peggy Jane (SP, $102,050), by Kafwain
                2nd Dam: Seattle Splash, by Chief Seattle
                3rd Dam: Grand Splash, by Bucksplasher
($220,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $1,800,000 2yo '19 EASMAY).
O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Grace Thoroughbred Holdings LLC
(KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-John R. Velazquez. $306,900. Lifetime
Record: Ch. Female Sprinter, 8-7-0-0, $1,286,500.
Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sconsin, 118, f, 4, by Include
                1st Dam: Sconnie, by Tiznow
                2nd Dam: In the Wild, by Forest Wildcat
                3rd Dam: Askrania, by Afleet
O/B-Lloyd Madison Farms LLC (KY); T-Gregory D. Foley.
$99,000.
3–Estilo Talentoso, 118, f, 4, by Maclean's Music
                1st Dam: Bazinga Baby, by Afleet Alex
                2nd Dam: Elizaveta, by Quiet American
                3rd Dam: Carezza, by Caro (Ire)
($77,000 Ylg '18 FTKOCT; $95,000 RNA 2yo '19 OBSAPR;
$15,000 2yo '19 OBSOPN). O/T-Juan Arriagada; B-Mile High
Bloodstock LLC (KY).$49,500.
Margins: 1HF, 1, 2 3/4. Odds: 0.20, 11.00, 15.40.
Also Ran: Bell's the One, Hibiscus Punch, Unique Factor.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Blowout Scores Front-Running Victory In Churchill Distaff Turf Mile

In each of her last seven starts, Chad Brown-trained Blowout was in front in the early stages of her races, so it was not surprising to see jockey Flavien Prat put Peter Brant's 5-year-old Dansili mare in front when the field raced past the Churchill Downs grandstand for the first time in Saturday's Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile in Louisville, Ky.

When the field reached the far turn, with about three-eights of a mile to run, Blowout had opened a commanding lead of about eight lengths. It wasn't insurmountable, however, as the field began to close in on Blowout at the top of the stretch. New York Girl and Abscond looked as though they might run past the front-runner, and then New York Girl came flying late.

But Prat had just enough horsepower left to get to the finish in front with Blowout, crossing the wire with a half-length to spare in 1:36.30 for the one mile on firm turf. The fractions were :24.28, :48.39, 1:12.99 and 1:24.71. Irish-bred New York Girl, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by John Velazquez, finished second, a head in front of Brendan Walsh-trained Zofelle, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., The latter nosed out Abscond, who finished fourth, with Got Storm fifth and She's Got You sixth. Jakarta was scratched.

Sent off as the 9-5 favorite, Blowout paid $5.80 for the win.

“She was running so easy up front and I thought the times were not that fast, so I was very happy,” said Prat. “Then when we came to the eighth pole, they all came after me and it looked like they might go by. But when she saw them, she regrouped and fired up again and we won it.”

Bred in England by the Wildenstein family's Dayton Investments Ltd., Blowout was produced from Deep Impact mare Beauty Parlour, winner of the 2012 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas). She was purchased by Brant as a foal in Ireland at the Goffs November Sale in 2016.

“She has a tendency to wait on horses and we preferred to have a target but when the 1 scratched she found herself on the lead,” said Brown. “I thought Flavien did an excellent job settling her down, as you can see, she can be a little difficult to handle. I thought once they turned for home they were going to close in again and she was going to wait for horses but he said when she had the horses behind her, she kicked in again, thankfully. It's very rare for me (to have a horse build a big lead), as you know a lot of my horses come from off the pace but we learned with this horse to let her do her thing and that's where she wants to be. Mr. Brant was really determined to get a Grade 1 with her, it's a wonderful family; he owns the mother. She was so close in the Matriarch and she did what Blowout does when she makes the lead, she waits on horses. A lot of her defeats are not due to fatigue it's that she likes to wait on horses. She can be difficult; she wants to be forward, and she pulls, but she's actually better with a target. And it's hard to find two-turn races for her with a target because she's so fast. She had it momentarily in the Matriarch but when she surged to the lead, she lost it and waited. I thought that might happen today turning for home; as easy as the fractions were for her, :48, you'd think she'd be gone, and sure enough they closed in on her because she will wait for horses. I thought they'd (the others) be a little closer than that. I was surprised with how far in front she was at one point. But guided by the fractions, looking at it, from a stamina point there was no issue. At that point it was mental. She'll be heading to the Just a Game at Belmont next.”

Winner of three races, with seven seconds and one third from 11 starts, including the Wild Applause Stakes and Pebbles Stakes at Belmont Park in 2019, the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile was her first graded stakes score.

Prat first rode Blowout in her most recent start, the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar last Nov. 29, where she lost by a nose to Brown stablemate Viadera.

Owner Peter Brant (right) with Blowout and jockey Flavien Prat

The post Blowout Scores Front-Running Victory In Churchill Distaff Turf Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Blowout Breaks Through In Distaff Turf Mile

After four straight tough beats, speedster Blowout opened up a big lead early and dug down late to belatedly make the grade. A two-time listed winner at three, Blowout was also either second or third that year–always beaten less than a length–in the GIII Florida Oaks, GIII Lake George S., GII Lake Placid S. and GIII Valley View S. Second again in a Saratoga allowance last August, the bay was beaten that margin by stablemate Viadera (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) in Belmont's GIII Noble Damsel S. Sept. 26, and by just a nose in the GI Matriarch S. at Del Mar Nov. 29.

Piloted for the second-straight time by California-based Flavien Prat, the Chad Brown trainee glided to the front with no resistance, immediately opening up some five lengths into the first turn. She seemed keen, but wasn't going overly quick through splits of :24.28, :48.39 and 1:12.99. The cavalry charge drew closer in the stretch, and Blowout looked to be in deep water, but she kept finding a little bit more to hold on.

“She was running so easy up front and I thought the times were not that fast, so I was very happy,{ Prat said. “Then when we came to the eighth pole, they all came after me and it looked like they might go by. But when she saw them, she regrouped and fired up again and we won it.”

Brown added, “She has a tendency to wait on horses and we preferred to have a target but when [Jakarta] scratched she found herself on the lead. I thought Flavien did an excellent job settling her down, as you can see, she can be a little difficult to handle. I thought once they turned for home they were going to close in again and she was going to wait for horses but he said when she had the horses behind her, she kicked in again, thankfully. It's very rare for me [to have a horse build a big lead], as you know a lot of my horses come from off the pace, but we learned with this horse to let her do her thing and that's where she wants to be.”

The GI Just a Game S. on the GI Belmont S. undercard June 5 will be next.

“[Owner Peter] Brant was really determined to get a Grade I with her, it's a wonderful family; he owns the mother. She was so close in the Matriarch and she did what Blowout does when she makes the lead, she waits on horses. A lot of her defeats are not due to fatigue it's that she likes to wait on horses. She can be difficult; she wants to be forward, and she pulls, but she's actually better with a target. And it's hard to find two-turn races for her with a target because she's so fast.”

Saturday, Churchill Downs
LONGINES CHURCHILL DISTAFF TURF MILE S.-GII, $500,000, Churchill Downs, 5-1, 4yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:36.30, fm.
1–BLOWOUT (GB), 118, m, 5, by Dansili (GB)
1st Dam: Beauty Parlour (GB) (G1SW-Fr, $713,308), by Deep Impact (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Bastet (Ire), by Giant's Causeway
3rd Dam: Benediction (Ire), by Day Is Done (Ire)
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (€450,000 Wlg '16 GOFNOV).
O-Peter M. Brant; B-Dayton Investments Ltd. (GB); T-Chad C.
Brown; J-Flavien Prat. $306,900. Lifetime Record: 12-4-7-1,
$718,600. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A++.
2–New York Girl (Ire), 118, f, 4, New Approach (Ire)–Annee
Lumiere (Ire), by Giant's Causeway. (32,000gns Wlg '17
TATFOA). O-R Unicorn Stable; B-P. F. Kelly & Peter Kelly (IRE);
T-William I. Mott. $99,000.
3–Zofelle (Ire), 118, m, 5, Zoffany (Ire)–Height of Elegance (Ire),
by Galileo (Ire). (27,000gns 3yo '19 TATJUL). O-Heider Family
Stables LLC; B-Fullbury & Minch Bloodstock (IRE); T-Brendan P.
Walsh. $49,500.
Margins: HF, HD, NO. Odds: 1.90, 8.20, 2.50.
Also Ran: Abscond, Got Stormy, She's Got You (GB). Scratched: Jakarta.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:

Blowout is the 86th grade/group winner for pensioned super sire Dansili; and 10th, of what will be many more, for late Deep Impact as a broodmare sire. Dam Beauty Parlour took the 2012 G1 French One Thousand Guineas and was second in the G1 French Oaks. The daughter of French SW/MGSP Bastet and full to SW/MGSP Barocci (Jpn) topped the 2016 Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale at €1.6 million, selling to Brant while in foal to Kingman (GB) and as part of the Wildenstein Stables dispersal. Brant's White Birch purchased Blowout for €450,000 during the foal portion of the same auction. Beauty Parlour produced Galileo fillies in both 2019 and 2020. She hails from the extended female family of champions Might and Power (NZ) and Lucky Owners (NZ).

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All Good for Oaks Runners Saturday

The runners from Friday's GI Kentucky Oaks appeared to exit the event in good order, with winner Malathaat (Curlin) “Excellent” Saturday morning according to trainer Todd Pletcher. Pletcher later added of Shadwell's five-for-five 'TDN Rising Star': “You'd like to think with a filly like her you can be thinking Breeders' Cup. But we've got a long way to go before we get there.”

Narrow runner-up Search Results (Flater) was also no worse for wear the morning after. “We checked her out this morning and she looks fine,” conditioner Chad Brown said. “She came back good and will ride back to New York on Monday. Right now, we'll look at the [June 5 GI] Acorn and [July 24 GI] Coaching Club American Oaks; those are the two most likely things we'll discuss.”

Trainer Dallas Stewart simply said he was “Proud” of longshot third-place finisher Will's Secret (Will Take Charge), while Stonestreet/Asmussen runners Clairiere (Curlin, fourth) and Pauline's Pearl (Tapit, eighth) will get a brief freshening.

Brad Cox's two runners Travel Column (Frosted) and Coach (Commissioner) were fifth and ninth, respectively. “[Travel Column] relaxed well on the front end but just didn't have that final push to continue on,” said Cox. “I'm still not sure what ended up happening with Coach, but we'll regroup and look for more options down the road.”

GII Gulfstream Park Oaks heroine Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map) suffered a superficial cut on her left foreleg. “She'll be fine. It won't have any impact on her,” said Greg Geier, assistant to trainer Kenny McPeek.

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