Upset as the odds-on choice by Always a Princess in last month's El Encino Stakes (gr. II), champion filly Blind Luck looks to snap a three-race losing streak in the La Canada Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 13 at Santa Anita Feb. 13.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer turns to jockey Rafael Bejarano in an effort to bring the loss string to an end in the 1 1/8-mile La Canada, which attracted just four other 4-year-old fillies, including Always a Princess. Bejarano, who replaces Joel Rosario, has not been aboard Blind Luck since a second-place finish in the Hollywood Oaks (gr. II) last June. He rode her to grade I victories last season in the Las Virgenes Stakes and the Kentucky Oaks.
According to Hollendorfer, the switch back to Bejarano from Rosario after five consecutive races was to gain a long-term commitment on the filly. Rosario is to ride Switch in Santa Anita’s $300,000 Santa Margarita Stakes (gr. I) March 13.
“He (Bejarano) is the leading rider and probably riding as good as anybody has seen him ride. I don’t think he’s lost a photo here,” Hollendorfer said.
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