Longines Acorn S.

When Gamine was entered into a maiden special weight at Santa Anita Park in March, people paid attention. The 3-year-old Into Mischief filly trained by Bob Baffert was purchased by Michael Lund Peterson for $1.8 million dollars and one could argue she has been a star from the start.

After she blew away the competition in her 6 1/2-furlong debut by 6 1/4 lengths, Baffert, who is generally reserved in speaking about his untested horses, revealed just how much he was anticipating the filly’s arrival on the track.

“I always get nervous when I have a first timer and I know I have a superstar in the making,” Baffert said after the maiden win. “Sometimes they work great and in the afternoons they just don’t show up. She is a little behind.”

Then the filly gave her trainer, who had announced he would be pointing her to the Longines Kentucky Oaks in September just prior to her next start, a slight scare when she repelled Speech by a mere neck to win a 1 1/16-mile allowance-optional claiming race at Oaklawn Park.

But when Gamine returned for the $300,000, Grade 1 Longines Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park, she announced her arrival on the 3-year-old filly classic trail loud and clear. Gamine ran the fastest Acorn in history, defeating a field of six other classy 3-year-old fillies under John Velazquez going one mile on the main track June 20.