'TDN Rising Stars' Gamine (Into Mischief) and Improbable (City Zip), each victorious in Grade I company at Saratoga in their most recent appearances, tuned up for their next engagements at Del Mar Saturday morning.
Michael Lund Petersen's Gamine, towering winner of the GI Longines Test S. Aug. 8, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 (XBTV video) in the company of her stakes-winning stablemate and fellow 'Rising Star' Quality Response (Quality Road). With Juan Ochoa in the saddle, the $220,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $1.8-million Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old sales topper was timed in fractions of :25.40 and :37.80 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.20 and seven-eighths in 1:27.20, according to clocker Toby Turrell. Improbable, who wired the field in the GI Whitney S. Aug. 1, worked by his lonesome, stopping the timer in 1:00.40. The opening three furlongs went in :36.20.
“Very nice works,” trainer Bob Baffert told the Del Mar notes team via text. “Still looking strong.”
Eclipse Award winner Storm the Court (Court Vision) worked a bullet five furlongs in :59 flat (1/73) (XBTV video) and could make his next start in the GI Kentucky Derby Sept. 5. He was most recently second trying the turf for the first time in the GII La Jolla H. Aug. 9, also opening the door for a start in the GII Del Mar Derby Sept. 6.
“It was a bit fast, the rider didn't realize they were going as fast as they were, but that's better than the alternative,” trainer Peter Eurton told the notes team.
Should he make the trip to Kentucky, Julien Leparoux has the mount.
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