Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer joked in the Hollywood Park
stable area Sunday morning that he does not need to be reminded about birthdays
any more since he is busy filling out Medicare forms for his 65th
next Saturday.
Hollendorfer said that no gift would be more greatly
appreciated than a victory in the $250,000 Grade I Vanity Handicap that day by
champion Blind Luck.
Hollendorfer, who will be inducted into Racing’s Hall of
Fame in August, has won three Grade I stakes trophies at Hollywood Park--the
Gamely, Hollywood Futurity and Hollywood Starlet--and indicated his mantel has
room for a fourth.
“She’s been doing great since she came back from Kentucky,”
said Hollendorfer of the 4-year-old filly who captured the La Troienne Stakes
at Churchill Downs May 6. “She will work here tomorrow or the next day.
“I think a mile and an eighth is a good distance for her,”
said Hollendorfer of the Vanity for fillies and mares on Cushion Track. Garrett
Gomez has the return call.
Blind Luck seeks to become the third female to complete the
Starlet-Vanity double, joining Hollywood Story and Splendid Blended. The
Kentucky-bred chestnut has won 10 of 19 starts and earned $2,679,520.
She seeks the sixth Grade I victory of her career.
The Vanity, the first in four years to be won by a distaffer
other than the retired Zenyatta, is also expected to attract Switch (Joel
Rosario), St Trinians (Rafael Bejarano), Miss Match (Joe Talamo), American
Story and She’s Cheeky.
Trainer John Sadler is hopeful that Switch, who upset Blind
Luck in the Hollywood Oaks last June, can repeat that performance.
“It’s a good tough race,” said Sadler. “Switch, Blind Luck and St Trinians are
really top horses. It’s not a real big field, but a classy field. (Trainer Bob)
Baffert should be in front (with American Story). We’ll probably be sitting in
second or third.”
Switch, who worked seven furlongs in 1:24.80 Saturday to the
satisfaction of Sadler, has won five of 14 starts and earned $942,600.
Switch and St Trinians both gave Horse of the Year Zenyatta
two of her toughest races.
Switch was overtaken in the final strides of the Lady’s
Secret Stakes here last October to finish one-half length behind Zenyatta. St
Trinians, trained by Mike Mitchell, was similarly beaten by one-half length in
the Vanity last year.
Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale seeks a record-equaling
fifth Vanity victory with Miss Match. The upset winner of the Grade I Santa
Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita worked four furlongs on the main track in 49.20
Sunday.