Sorry about that, Saratoga. Maybe next time, Monmouth.
Saturday morning, Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer ruled out
the contemplated East Coast trips for champion filly Blind Luck for the
Personal Ensign or Molly Pitcher stakes. And while not making a complete
commitment to the $1 million Pacific Classic, Del Mar’s signature
event, Hollendorfer did cite it as the last possibility of the three
races on Sunday, August 28, to which the 4-year-old filly had been
nominated.
“We’re not going to New York. We’re not going to New Jersey,” Hollendorfer said. “If we run anywhere, it will be here.”
The 1 ¼-mile Classic, which drew 18 nominations and figures to have
around a dozen names in the box when entries close and post positions
are drawn on Wednesday, would be the first assignment against males for
Blind Luck. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Pollard’s Vision has never
been out of the money in 21 career starts, with 12 wins and earnings of
$3,279,520.
She is 2-for-2 at the 1 ¼-mile distance and has been training well
over Del Mar’s Polytrack surface since returning from a narrow victory
over archrival Havre de Grace in the $750,000 Delaware Handicap on July
16.
Hollendorfer said the next major workout for Blind Luck would be Tuesday or Wednesday.
Considered probables for the Pacific Classic (with likely jockey
assignments) are: Achak (Tyler Baze), Blind Luck (Garrett Gomez),
Caracortado (Joe Talamo), Don Cavallo (Luis Contreras), Game On Dude
(Chantal Sutherland), Jeranimo, Setsuko (Victor Espinoza), Stately
Victor, Tres Borrachos (Rafael Bejarano), Twirling Candy (Joel Rosario),
and Victory Pete. Considered Pacific Classic possibles, but with other
race options, are: Acclamation, Bourbon Bay, Make Music For Me, Quindici
Man and Victory Pete.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS
Craig Lewis, trainer of Quindici Man, received permission from the
racing office to enter the 5-year-old son of Came Home in Wednesday’s
$85,000 Harry F. Brubaker Stakes, which is run at 1 1/16 miles on turf,
but retain the option to scratch from that race and run in the Pacific
Classic.
“We put up the $300 (Classic nomination fee) and he is a true
mile-and-a-quarter horse,” Lewis said. Quindici Man was a fast-closing
third to Game On Dude, beaten only a half-length, at the distance on
dirt in the Santa Anita Handicap.
“The problem is that he doesn’t like synthetics – that’s not a knock on the track it’s just that he’s better on dirt.”
Quindici Man will be put through a workout over the Polytrack on
Sunday or Monday after which Lewis will consult with the owners from
Six-S Racing Stables and make a decision.
Trainer Alexis Barba has two Pacific Classic nominees, Make Music For
Me and Victory Pete. Saturday morning, by telephone from Los Angeles,
she said she anticipated having “Probably one, but maybe none,” to
saddle for the race.
Make Music For Me, winner of four of six turf assignments including a
1 1/16 mile allowance at Del Mar on July 30, is also nominated for the
$200,000 Del Mar Handicap on the Pacific Classic undercard. Victory
Pete, third in the Wickerr Handicap at one mile on turf on July 27, is
also nominated for the $200,000 Grade II Del Mar Mile on August 27.
Barba said that the 3-for-5 record of Make Music For Me on grass and
the 1 3/8 mile distance of the Del Mar Handicap would be factors to
consider but, “otherwise I don’t have a preference.”