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2021 Great Lady M Stakes

John Velazquez celebrates aboard Gamine after winning the 2021 Great Lady M Stakes

The feature race on the Monday after Independence Day at Los Alamitos was the $150,000 Great Lady M Stakes (G2) for older fillies and mares sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs. Conditions were identical to Sunday with sunny skies and temperatures in the high 70's. After 3 scratches, a short field of just 5 went to post, with Gamine sent off as the 1-5 favorite off a 3 race win streak including the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1), Las Flores (G3), and Derby City Distaff (G1). In to challenge her included 3-1 second choice Edgeway, winner of the Carousel at Oaklawn, and 13-1 third choice Qahira, 2nd in the Las Flores after finishing 3rd in the Santa Monica (G2). Due to the small field and heavy favorite, show wagering was not available.

Down the stretch in the 2021 Great Lady M Stakes with Gamine drawing away.

Jockey John Velazquez sent Gamine to the lead out of the chute and she set fractions of 21.61 and 44.32 while pressed by Edgeway and stalked by 45-1 longest shot Road Rager. Turning for home, Gamine left the field behind through 3/4 in 1:08.40, and finishing up 10 lengths ahead of 23-1 Bella Vita in 1:14.98, just 0.50 second off the track record. It was a neck back to Road Rager third.

Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 5 Gamine Velazquez 2.40 2.10 - 6 Bella Vita Hernandez 9.00 - 8 Road Rager Pyfer - Winning Time: 1:14.98 $1 Exacta 5-6 7.60 $1 Trifecta 5-6-8 95.10 $1 Superfecta 5-6-8-4 170.90 Results Chart

Left: Gamine in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Bob Baffert, celebrating his fourth Great Lady M win, said, "It was nice to see a lot of people come to the paddock to get a good luck at her. That's what great horses do. When she runs I get nervous and I'm more relieved after the race."

Right: Gamine heads back to the barn after the race. Winning jockey John Velazquez said, "I know she's quick and (third-place finisher Road Rager) showed speed and I knew the horse to beat (Edgeway) was inside of me. She relaxed and I let her do her thing around the turn and that was it from there."

Left: Gamine heads into the paddock before the race. Baffert added, "She looked great and I'm glad she came through. She might be able to stretch out. She's getting older and more mature. That's one option I've been thinking about, but I don't know what we'll do next. I want to see how she comes out of this and I'll let her tell me."

Right: Gamine in the post parade.

Left: Second place finisher Bella Vita walks over before the race. The Simon Callaghan trainee improved her record to 2 wins, 5 seconds, and 1 third in 9 starts, earning $221,790 for owner Kaleem Shah.

Right: Third place finisher Road Rager heads out to the track before the race. The Brian Koriner trainee improved her record to 2 wins, 2 seconds, and 6 thirds in 14 starts, earning $152,162 for owner Jay Em Ess Stable.

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