Gamine wins Acorn Stakes in record time

Gamine led all the way in winning the $300,000 Acorn Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by 18 3/4 lengths at Belmont on Saturday.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Gamine ran one mile in 1:32.55, fastest in the 90-year history of the race. Her time was just off the track record of 1:32.24 set by Najran in 2003. Gamine earned 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks on Sept. 4 at Churchill Downs.

Gamine is one of two horses trained by Baffert that tested positive for a banned substance at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas. She won a race there on May 2. Published reports stated Gamine, along with Charlatan, tested positive for lidocaine, a regulated anesthetic widely used in equine medicine.

It’s considered a Class 2 drug by the Association of Racing Commissioners International, and use of it carries a penalty of a 15- to 60-day suspension and a fine of $500 to $1,000 for a first offense. Without mitigating circumstances, a horse would be eliminated and forfeit its purse.

Results of B sample tests have not been revealed by the Arkansas Racing Commission.

Looking for the best online betting site and Live betting? Visit Heritage Sports!

Under Hall of Fame John Velazquez, Gamine won her stakes debut and improved to 3-0 in her career. Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, she paid $3.40 to win. The triumph boosted her career earnings to $234,000. Gamine was purchased for $1.8 million.

“She did everything I wanted her to do,” said Velazquez, whose fifth win in the Acorn tied Mike Smith for most in the race among jockeys. “She’s a little bit on the aggressive side, but I let her relax around the backstretch. Once we got to the five-sixteenths pole I let her run. By the quarter-pole she opened up so quickly I had to look back. She’s very nice and professional. I wish they were all that easy.”

Pleasant Orb concluded second, and Water White was another half-length back in third.

Get all the latest Live Betting and Sport News updates on your social media outlets. Find us on both Facebook and Twitter