LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Michael Lund Petersen’s champion Gamine tops a field of six fillies and mares for the 35th running of the $500,000 Derby City Distaff presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (GI) going seven furlongs on the main track.
The Derby City Distaff will go as the seventh race with a 1:56 p.m. post time.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Gamine has won six of her seven career starts and capped off her championship campaign with a track record-setting romp in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) at Keeneland in November.
Gamine opened 2021 with a 5-length victory in the Las Flores (GIII) April 4 at Santa Anita. John Velazquez has the mount Saturday leaving post four.
Her top challenger figures to be Bell’s the One who is seeking to become the first repeat winner of the race.
Owned by Lothenbach Stables and trained by Neil Pessin, Bell’s the One has compiled a 4-2-2-0 record at Churchill Downs. Regular rider Corey Lanerie has the mount and will exit post three.
The field for the Derby City Distaff, with riders and weights from the rail out, is:
1. Estilo Talentoso (Javier Castellano, 118 pounds)
2. Sconsin (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118)
3. Bell’s the One (Lanerie, 123)
4. Gamine (Velazquez, 123)
5. Hibiscus Punch (Luis Saez, 120)
6. Unique Factor (Joel Rosario, 118)
Churchill Downs Press ReleasePhoto: Gamine sets a track record for seven furlongs (1:20.20) in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland. (Keeneland/Coady Photography)
