Sure the
energy was the highest and the screams were the loudest for the Derby, but you
know who else created quite a stir … None other than last year’s Kentucky Oaks
winner, Blind Luck.
In a battle
between the top two finishers in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic,
Blind Luck turned the tables on her vanquisher that day with a hard fought
half-length victory in the Grade 2 La Troienne Stakes Friday at Churchill
Downs. In earning her 10th win in 19 lifetime starts, not only was
she able to gain revenge on Unrivaled Belle, but the champion sophomore filly
of 2010 was also able to put an end to a five race losing streak. In each of
those five races, Blind Luck rallied to finish 2nd. This satisfying victory
fittingly came on the undercard of the Kentucky Oaks, and as she crossed the
wire just ahead of her top rival, the record Oaks day crowd gave one of their
favorite fillies an impressive roar of approval.
For those
of us who thought Blind Luck needed a rest, (she has not had one since she
began her career in the summer of her two-year-old season) including yours
truly, her impressive stretch run in the La Troienne was a friendly reminder of
just how classy she is. Blind Luck stumbled badly out of the gate and almost tasted
the Churchill dirt one step out of the starting gate. Recovering like a
champion, Blind Luck was able to move into position on the backstretch during
moderate early fractions. As the field cam spinning out of the turn, it was
Blind Luck under rider Garrett Gomez who was moving best on the far outside. A
stretch run featured a battle between the two favorites, and it was the filly
in pink, which would prove strongest.
A
four-year-old daughter of the one-eyed stallion Pollard’s Vision, Blind Luck
raised her lifetime earnings to the gaudy total of $2,679,519. Not bad for a
filly who began her career in a maiden claiming event at Calder.
Racing’s
favorite energizer bunny will not have much time to rest on her laurels, as
trainer Jerry Hollendorfer plans to run her next in Hollywood’s Vanity Handicap
in June. Whatever happens in the Vanity, you can expect Blind Luck to run her
race. She has never finished out of the money in her career, and has finished
worse than 2nd in only two starts.
While I
still rate Havre De Grace as the top female horse in America, I must admit I couldn’t
help but feel a special satisfaction for Blind Luck’s win. Taking her lightly
in any race she enters is nothing short of a fool’s folly. There is so much to
like about a filly who tries as hard as Blind Luck does every time. She doesn’t
always get the win, but she makes that patented rally every single race. Welcome
back to the winner’s circle, Blind Luck!