Gamine kicked off Saturday's Breeders' Cup action with a dominant display in the Filly & Mare Sprint on what could be a big night for trainer Bob Baffert at Keeneland.
Baffert will saddle three of the leading contenders in the Breeders' Cup Classic later in the night and enjoyed the perfect confidence-booster as Gamine produced a brilliant performance under John Velazquez.
Despite being sent off the 6/5 favourite, Gamine had a few questions to answer cutting back to seven furlongs but she answered those emphatically, putting away Serengeti Empress in fine style and breaking the track record in the process.
Gamine broke smartly from stall two but had competition for the lead as four-year-old Serengeti Empress took her on early and Velazquez was happy to take a lead as the latter set a scorching first quarter of 21.77 seconds.
Serengeti Empress continued to roll on as they turned for home but Velazquez always cut a confident figure on her heels and Gamine picked up strongly once given the office with just over a furlong to run, scampering clear and leaving her rivals toiling in her wake.
Bell's The One couldn't match the front two early but plugged on for third.
A thrilled Baffert said afterwards: "I'm so proud and happy for this filly after what she's had to endure this season. But we've always felt she's the best in the land going one turn and she proved it today.
"We talked about it and knew she'd get the lead but I said she is training the best she's ever trained and this one turn is her game. She's the fastest filly I've ever trained in my life."
