July 10, 2010 - Blind Luck Gets Up By Nose in Delaware Oaks

It wasn't easy, but Blind Luck just managed to get the job done as the heavy favorite in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Delaware Oaks.

Coming from last down the backstretch and racing over a sloppy track for the first time in her 12-race career, Blind Luck ($2.60) won a head bob at the wire with locally based Havre de Grace to earn the sixth graded stakes victory of her career.

Derwin's Star, a sprinter who was claimed for $10,000 last November, wound up third after setting the pace in her first start beyond 6 1/2 furlongs. She was 1.25 lengths clear of No Such Word, the slight second choice in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies at 6-1.

With Southern California jockey Joel Rosario subbing for regular rider Rafael Bejarano, Blind Luck was kept 7 1/2 lengths off the early pace as Derwin's Star set fractions of 48.17 seconds and 1:12.54. Blind Luck began picking up horses while four-wide approaching the final turn, but still found herself needing to make up a 2 1/2-length deficit with a furlong remaining. Havre de Grace, second throughout the entire 1 1/16-mile race, overtook Derwin's Star inside the eighth pole to take a short lead, but was outdueled to the finish as Blind Luck just reached the wire first by a nose.

"It was close, but she got there," said Rosario. "She broke a slow and since the track was wet, so sometimes you have to take your time and let your horse settle. After I passed the three-eighths pole, I asked her, and she proved to be a nice filly, and she beat a nice filly."

Hollendorfer, who owns Blind Luck in partnership with Mark DeDomenico, John Carver, and Peter Abruzzo, said he was relieved his star filly managed to find a way to win after being so far back early.

"I honestly was hoping she would have been a little closer," Hollendorfer said. "You know the good ones just find a way to get there. I mean, she has been beaten before, but she is a very good filly and she just finds a way to there.

"We are very grateful and very thankful. Joel is a very strong rider and he is one of the strongest finishers in the country."

It was the second straight tough loss for Havre de Grace, who missed by a neck in her stakes debut last month in Delaware's Go For Wand Stakes.

Blind Luck, now 8 for 12 lifetime, completed the distance in 1:43.34, the identical time Proud Spell posted two years ago. Like Proud Spell, Blind Luck has also now won both the Kentucky Oaks and the Delaware Oaks.

Hollendorfer said he still intends to take Blind Luck to Saratoga for her next start in the Alabama on Aug. 21.

- Joe DeVivo, Daily Racing Form (drf.com)

June 30, 2010 - City to City Carving Out Own Niche on Turf

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - It is not easy for the 3-year-old filly City to City to gain attention in trainer Jerry Hollendorfer's stable at Hollywood Park. The same barn houses fellow 3-year-old filly Blind Luck, the winner of the Kentucky Oaks in April.

At least City to City does not have to face Blind Luck. Blind Luck has raced on dirt or synthetic tracks throughout her career; City to City has become a turf specialist.

Blind Luck has won four Grade 1 races to take the role of national division leader. City to City will be after her own milestone win at that level in Saturday's $250,000 American Oaks at Hollywood Park, her first start in a Grade 1.

The American Oaks is run over 1 1/4 miles on turf, and it is that distance that gives Hollendorfer confidence.

"We want to try her a little longer and see how she does," Hollendorfer said. "I think she's very good."

Owned by the trainer, Will deBurgh, and Mark DeDominico, City to City has not been worse than third in six starts on turf this year. The highlight was a win in the Grade 2 Providencia Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita in April.

By City Zip, City to City has been third in two starts at this meeting, the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes over a mile on May 2 and the Grade 2 Honeymoon Handicap over 1 1/8 miles on May 31. In the latter race, she closed from last in a field of seven in the final three furlongs to finish a length behind Evening Jewel.

Unfortunately for Hollendorfer and his partners, City to City must beat the runner-up from that race in Cozi Rosie, the likely favorite in the American Oaks.

"I think it will be a tough race," he said.

The American Oaks will have a local field. In the past, the American Oaks purse has ranged from $500,000 to $750,000 and drawn runners from other parts of the world and the United States. A purse cut this year will keep the prize money among names familiar in Southern California.

"If the purse was still big, there would be some of those" shippers, Hollendorfer said.

- Steve Andersen, Daily Racing Form (drf.com)

May 1, 2010 - Blind Luck Gives Hollendorfer Third Oaks

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Jerry Hollendorfer leaned to his right, his body language fairly screaming to his filly, Blind Luck, as the trainer watched the Kentucky Oaks on a large-screen television above the paddock at Churchill Downs. Blind Luck came to the finish right alongside Evening Jewel, the margin in doubt right to the very end.

"Did we get it?" Hollendorfer asked, before stopping to watch a replay, and doing the Hollendorfer lean once more. After a second viewing, he was more confident. "I think we got it," he said.

Hollendorfer has won more than 5,000 races, and two previous runnings of the Kentucky Oaks, so it probably was not a surprise that when the result was posted on the tote board minutes later, The Dorf was right - again. Blind Luck ($4.60), the favorite, had gotten up in the last jump to nose out Evening Jewel, another California-based filly, in a thrilling running of the Grade 1, $584,300 Kentucky Oaks before an Oaks-record crowd of 116,046.

"It was really nice, since she did get the bob there at the wire," said Hollendorfer, who owns Blind Luck along with Mark DeDomenico, John Carver, and Peter Abruzzo. "They all mean a lot. But this race is very special. It's the best race for 3-year-old fillies."

Evening Jewel finished 2 3/4 lengths in front of third-place Tidal Pool. Beautician was fourth and was followed, in order, by Ailalea, Amen Hallenlujah, Crisp, Quiet Temper, It's Tea Time, Joanie's Catch, Champagne d'Oro, Age of Humor, Jody Slew, and Bella Diamante.

Blind Luck completed 1 1/8 miles on the fast main track in 1:50.70.

The finish mirrored the result of the Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita in February, in which Blind Luck also beat Evening Jewel by a nose. As on that day, Blind Luck won by rushing past all her rivals. But at Santa Anita, there were only four to pass. At Churchill Downs Friday, she roared past 13 other 3-year-old fillies under jockey Rafael Bejarano, who was winning the Oaks for the first time.

Bejarano took Blind Luck four paths wide on the final turn and was fanned five wide into the stretch, but the Churchill Downs main track seemed to be favoring outside lanes on Friday.

"I saw a lot of speed in the race," Bejarano said. "I tried to leave her alone in the beginning. She broke kind of slow a little bit, like she does always. From the five-eighths, I had to make a little middle move to get into position before the second turn, because my filly was really far back early.

"As soon as I came into the stretch, and pulled her into the clear, I knew she would kick. It was a really tight race in the end, but I knew I had it. She showed me a big kick in the stretch, but the other horse was still running strong. My filly, she always fights."

Blind Luck has now won 7 times in 10 starts, and has won 4 of her last 5. Even though she was nominated to the Triple Crown, Hollendorfer always insisted she would be pointed to the Oaks, not the Kentucky Derby, a decision DeDomenico supported.

"What if she had to come around 20 horses?" he said.

Hollendorfer said no decision had yet been made on where Blind Luck would run next.

Blind Luck, a daughter of the one-eyed stallion Pollard's Vision, was purchased privately by Hollendorfer and his partners after a debut win against maiden claimers last June at Calder. She has been based in California since then. In her only other start outside California, Blind Luck won the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park on April 2.

Hollendorfer had won the Oaks with Lite Light in 1991 and Pike Place Dancer in 1996. Despite being the fourth-winningest trainer of all time, he was left off this year's Hall of Fame ballot when it was announced this week, even though he has been on it in prior years.

"These things aren't up to me," Hollendorfer said.

"Jerry should be on that ballot," DeDomenico said. "He should be on that ballot the next time it comes around."

- Jay Privman, Daily Racing Form (drf.com)

April 30, 2010 - Blind Luck Heavy Favorite in Oaks

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Jerry Hollendorfer knows the feeling of saddling a Kentucky Oaks winner, having already done it twice. "It's very nice," he said in knowing understatement.

But it's been a long time between drinks, and Hollendorfer, an iconic trainer on the Northern California circuit, would like nothing more than to see his 2010 Oaks favorite, Blind Luck, race into the Churchill Downs history books Friday to join Lite Light (1991) and Pike Place Dancer (1996) as winners of the filly classic.

"We're coming into the race in real good shape," said Hollendorfer. "But this is a deep field, and we're going to need some luck, like every horse winning a big race needs."

Blind Luck, with Rafael Bejarano to ride, will be a heavy favorite in a full field of 14 fillies set for the 136th Oaks, which will be run before the usual festive crowd of 100,000-plus and a huge television audience watching on the Bravo cable network. The Grade 1 Oaks is carded as the 11th of 12 races, with first post set for 10:30 a.m. Eastern and the Oaks going at 5:45 p.m.

Privately purchased after her first race by a partnership led by Mark DeDomenico, Blind Luck has ascended to the head of the 3-year-old filly division by winning three Grade 1 races and by prepping for the Oaks with an impressive score in the Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park four weeks ago. A Kentucky-bred daughter of Pollard's Vision, she has utilized a mid-pack style and steady late kick to capture 6 of 9 starts and more than $1 million.

Bejarano, who emerged as a rising star on the Kentucky circuit in 2004 before moving to Southern California several years later, will need to keep Blind Luck out of the traffic trouble that led to her being upset two starts back in the Santa Anita Oaks.

"I'd just like to see her get in good position and finish up, because if she does that we should be right there," said Hollendorfer.

Blind Luck will start from post 5 in the Oaks, which is run at 1 1/8 miles and will have a total purse of $584,300 if all 14 fillies start.

If Blind Luck stubs her toe, there is no shortage of capable runners to step into the void.

Amen Hallelujah emerged as a major factor in the division this winter by winning the Grade 2 Santa Ynez at Santa Anita and the Grade 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park. Trainer Rick Dutrow, who won the Kentucky Derby two years ago with Big Brown, has been quietly confident with how the Florida-bred filly has trained in recent days at Churchill.

"I'm under the impression that she's going to run a real big race," said Dutrow.

Crisp was good enough to defeat Blind Luck in the March 6 Santa Anita Oaks and was purposely withheld from a subsequent prep "because I'd run her four or five times fairly quick there, and I didn't think she needed the one more race," said trainer John Sadler. "I'm very satisfied with how she's coming into this."

Evening Jewel and It's Tea Time were the one-two finishers in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland earlier this month, and both approach the Oaks in terrific fashion, according to their respective connections.

"We won't know until Friday if we're good enough to win, but I do know this is a top filly," said Rusty Arnold, trainer of It's Tea Time.

Other Oaks possibilities include Tidal Pool, second to Blind Luck in the Fantasy, and Quiet Temper, winner of the Fair Grounds Oaks last out.

Jody Slew, Age of Humor, Beautician, Bella Diamante, Champagne d'Oro, Ailalea, and Joanie's Catch complete the lineup.

The race shape figures to have Champagne d'Oro setting the pace, with any of a number of fillies tracking closely, including Quiet Temper, Crisp, Tidal Pool, Evening Jewel, and Amen Hallelujah. Blind Luck could be right behind that group, just waiting to make her move, while closers such as It's Tea Time, Jody Slew and Ailalea probably will need a pace meltdown to render their kicks effective.

"It should be an interesting race, the way it all unfolds," said Dale Romans, trainer of Quiet Temper. "Any way you look at it, it's a great race to be a part of. It's the Oaks."

The Oaks has been a gateway to greatness for many fillies, with its list of champions including such revered equines as Alcibiades (1930), Cicada (1962), Susan's Girl (1972), Princess Rooney (1983), Silverbulletday (1999), and Rags to Riches (2007).

Last year, Rachel Alexandra might have surpassed all of those greats with her record 20 1/4-length Oaks victory and a perfect season that led to her being voted the 2009 Horse of the Year. The superstar filly surely will get a hero's welcome Friday when she makes her second 2010 start in the sixth race of the day, the La Troienne Stakes.

Thousands of people in the Churchill crowd will be attired to fit a "Pink Out" theme tied to a Churchill partnership with the Susan G. Komen foundation for breast cancer awareness. The one-hour Bravo telecast (5-6 p.m.) also will highlight the promotion.

The Oaks will lead off a pair of two-day wagers: a daily double linked with the Derby, and a pick three with the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic and Derby.

The Friday forecast calls for the warmest day of the week, with mostly sunny skies and a high of 82.

- Marty McGee, Daily Racing Form (drf.com)

April 2, 2010 - Blind Luck Outclasses Short Field in Fantasy Stakes

Multiple Grade 1 winner Blind Luck cemented her status as a leading contender for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) later this month as she rebounded from a disappointing 2010 debut with a last-to-first charge in the $250,000 Fantasy Stakes (G2) on Friday at Oaklawn Park.

The chestnut Pollard’s Vision filly, the overwhelming 1-to-2 favorite, entered the 1 1/16-mile race for three-year-old fillies off a third-place finish behind Crisp and All Due Respect in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) on March 6 but was a clear and convincing winner on Friday.

Blind Luck demonstrated her class last season as she finished third in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) in November before reeling off a pair of Grade 1 wins in the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (G1), which she won by seven lengths, and the Las Virgenes Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park on February 13 in her sophomore debut for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who is part of a partnership that owns the filly.

She ran back to her Grade 1-winning form on Friday as she settled back five lengths or more off the pace right out of the gate under jockey Rafael Bejarano while the speedy Tidal Pool took the field through a quarter-mile in :24.19 and a half-mile in :47.88.

Still racing about five lengths behind the leaders entering the far turn, Blind Luck ranged up and made her bid on the outside, running down Tidal Pool in deep stretch to cross the line first, 2½ lengths clear, covering the distance in 1:42.56 on a track rated as fast.

The Fantasy marked the only second start on dirt for Southern California-based Blind Luck, whose only previous race on the surface was her eye-opening 13¼-length romp in her career debut last June at Calder Race Course.

Tidal Pool held for second, 6 1/2 lengths in front of recent Honeybee Stakes (G3) winner No Such Word.

Bred in Kentucky by Fairlawn Farm, Blind Luck has never been off the board with six wins, a second, and two third-place finishes from nine starts. She is out of the winning Best of Luck mare Lucky One.

- Steve Bailey, Thoroughbred Times (thoroughbredtimes.com)

March 26, 2010 - Who's Up Doing 'Swimmingly' for Santa Anita Derby

Who’s Up is scheduled to make his first start since winning the Grade III Generous Stakes at one mile on turf at Hollywood Park last Nov. 28 when he runs in the Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 3.

Trainer Mike Puhich hopes a good showing in the Santa Anita Derby will lead to the Kentucky Derby on May 1 for the son of Graeme Hall, who has been training for Puhich at the Pegasus facility in Redmond, Washington, for his return to the races.

“The horse arrived this week, he’s settled in great, and we’re going to breeze him on Sunday,” said Puhich, who conditions Who’s Up for the M Racing stable of owner Michael Gonzalez. “The horse had some issues that required rehabilitation at Pegasus. He needed to swim and use the treadmill, and that pretty much got him up to this point.

“Mr. Gonzalez wanted to get a prep for the (Kentucky) Derby, and the most logical way was to take advantage of everything Pegasus had to offer. Most horses would be hand-walking, while he was swimming in the pool, so we kept the cardiovascular up and used the underwater treadmill to build up his muscle tone. When he was ready to resume full training, I didn’t have to do much with him. I galloped him four days and breezed him.”

Who’s Up has kept good company in his abbreviated career. In his first start, he was second to Sidney’s Candy, who has gone on to win the San Vicente Stakes and the San Felipe Stakes, both Grade II events. Who’s Up was seventh despite a wide trip behind champion Lookin At Lucky in the Grade I Del Mar Futurity, then broke his maiden before capturing the Generous Stakes.

Probable for the Santa Anita Derby: Sidney’s Candy, Joe Talamo; Caracortado, Paul Atkinson; Lookin At Lucky, Garrett Gomez; Setsuko, Rafael Bejarano; Thomas Baines, Joel Rosario; Alphie’s Bet, Alex Solis; Posse Power, no rider; Skipshot, no rider; Cardiff Giant, Christian Santiago Reyes; and Who’s Up, Victor Espinoza.

- Ed Golden, Santa Anita Park - Stable Notes (santaanita.com)

March 5, 2010 - Difficult to Look Beyond Blind Luck

ARCADIA, Calif. - Blind Luck won the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes by seven lengths in December. When she made her 2010 debut last month, she won the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes by a nose.

One race showed how dominant she can be, the other may have been the only time she is vulnerable for the foreseeable future. Saturday at Santa Anita, Blind Luck, who is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, will be heavily favored to win her fourth Grade 1 in the $250,000 Santa Anita Oaks. The race distance of 1 1/16 miles gives assistant trainer Dan Ward confidence that Blind Luck will be tough to beat. "Distance will help," Ward said.

Blind Luck closed five lengths in the final quarter-mile to edge Evening Jewel in the one-mile Las Virgenes. She ran the final quarter-mile in 22.54 seconds to solidify her status as the leading 3-year-old filly in California, and possibly the nation.

"I think she can finish like that no matter where she is in the race," Ward said. "When you close in 22 and 2, that always gives you a chance to win."

Blind Luck's only loss in three starts at 1 1/16 miles was a third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies last November, a race in which she encountered traffic and was beaten three-quarters of a length by eventual divisional champion She Be Wild.

Ward said on Thursday that Blind Luck has calmed in recent months, particularly in the way she behaves in the starting gate.

"She has no issues," he said. "The first couple of times we ran her she was a little nervous in the gate. She's gotten over that. In fact, this morning she stood in the gate perfectly."

Blind Luck is among eight entrants in the Santa Anita Oaks, although trainer John Sadler said that Sister Dawn, who drew the rail, would be scratched. She was cross-entered in an allowance race on Thursday. Sadler has two intended starters - Crisp, who won the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes in January and was fourth in the Las Virgenes, and Cozi Rosie, who is making her stakes debut after winning her last two starts, both over 1 1/16 miles.

Crisp will wear blinkers for the first time and worked six furlongs in 1:12 wearing that equipment at Hollywood Park last Sunday.

"She had a big work with the blinkers on," Sadler said.

Cozi Rosie may be better over a longer distance, Sadler said.

"We wish the race was a mile and an eighth," Sadler said. "She's all distance in her pedigree."

None of the other starters is a stakes winner. All Due Respect was third in the Grade 3 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs last November and is making her first start for trainer Kathy Walsh. Zilva was seventh in the BC Juvenile Fillies and fifth in the Santa Ysabel Stakes in her last two starts.

* The first of five stakes on the program is the $60,000 Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-olds over a mile on turf.

Macias, who won the Eddie Logan and Baffle stakes already at this meeting, will be favored in a field of 10. There will be support for Alfarabi, the winner of an optional claimer over 1 1/8 miles on turf on Jan. 27, and Make Music for Me, who was third in his last start, the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec. 19.

- Steve Andersen, Daily Racing Form (drf.com)

February 5, 2010 - Patience a Big Plus for Blind Luck

ARCADIA, Calif. - The patient style that Blind Luck showed during her 2-year-old campaign in 2009 has given jockey Rafael Bejarano ample confidence that the filly can continue among the best in her division in 2010.

The leading 3-year-old filly in California, Blind Luck will be heavily favored to win her third Grade 1 race in Saturday's $250,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita. Bejarano cannot envision any other result in the one-mile race. He was aboard for her last start, a seven-length win in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes in December.

"She can relax behind horses," he said. "That's why she exploded so strongly in the stretch. The good thing is she's not nervous in the post parade."

Owned by a partnership that includes trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Blind Luck has already proven to adore Santa Anita's synthetic main track. Last fall, in two starts here, she won the Grade 1 Oak Leaf Stakes and was a game third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. "She hasn't regressed," Hollendorfer said. "We think she's trained forwardly. She's kept her [weight] and her color."

The Las Virgenes is the only Grade 1 of the five stakes on Saturday's 10-race program. The Grade 2, $200,000 Strub Stakes for 4-year-olds and the Grade 2, $150,000 Robert Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds are the other major stakes. There are two turf stakes - the $65,000 Leroidesanimaux Stakes and the $60,000 Wishing Well Handicap - but expected rain could force those races to the main track.

Blind Luck is part of a field of six in the Las Virgenes, the afternoon's fourth race. Crisp (Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes), Evening Jewel (California Breeders' Champion Stakes) and La Nez (California Cup Juvenile Fillies) are the other stakes winners in the field. Switch, third in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes last month, and the maiden winner Summer Games will be longshots trying to reach that level.

The field could be reduced to five starters if significant rain falls. Trainer Eric Kruljac said he is not certain La Nez would start in those conditions.

"If it looks the least bit unsafe, I won't run," Kruljac said. "I'll have to make my own judgement."

Blind Luck has won 4 of 6 starts and $709,050. A finalist for the 2009 Eclipse Award as outstanding 2-year-old filly, Blind Luck is proven around two turns. In her two stakes wins, she settled without difficulty at the back of the field and ran brilliantly through the stretch.

"I think there is some speed in there to set it up," Hollendorfer said. "Rafael knows the filly well."

Bejarano worked Blind Luck last summer before she made her California debut, but did not ride her until December after he lost the mount when he was injured last July. The filly who arrived in California after a 13-length win in a maiden claimer at Calder last June is not the same filly that won the Starlet, he said.

"She looks different than she did last year," Bejarano said. "She's doing phenomenal. She's been training good in the morning. Hopefully, she can win easy like she did last time."

Trainer John Sadler has the best chances for an upset, starting Switch and Crisp. Switch will be part of the pace, along with Summer Games, who has never raced beyond six furlongs. In the seven-furlong Santa Ynez on Jan. 16, Switch had the early lead but faded to finish third under Bejarano. Tyler Baze rides Switch in the Las Virgenes.

"She's fast enough," Sadler said. "She took off a little with Bejarano the other day and kind of got away from him, but she can relax. Tyler should be able to handle her in front."

Crisp is proven around two turns, having won a maiden race and the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes in her last two starts. She finished a length in front of Evening Jewel in the Santa Ysabel over 1 1/16 miles, and will be a threat from well off the pace in the Las Virgenes.

"It might be a little short for her," Sadler said. "We'd prefer further."

Despite speaking confidently about his fillies, Sadler acknowledges Blind Luck's ability.

Blind Luck, said Sadler, "definitely deserves to be the heavy favorite. If we can get a second or third, that's not so bad. I can't emphasize how important the Grade 1 is with these fillies."

- Steve Andersen, Daily Racing Form (drf.com)

January 7, 2010 - City To City Upsets Jules J by a Nose

City to City battled back after being headed in midstretch to win the $30,866 turf feature for 3-year-old fillies by a nose Thursday at Golden Gate Fields.

City to City set the pace in the 1 1/16-miles race but lost the lead to odds-on favorite Jules J a furlong from the finish. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, City to City came back on under steady urging from jockey Michael Martinez to prevail in a tight photo finish.

The fourth wagering choice in a field of six, City to City paid $19.20. Jules J, the 1-to-2 choice ridden by Frank Alvarado, took second by 3 1/2 lengths over Moon Quist Rose.

City to City, a Kentucky-bred daughter of City Zip, was making her turf debut and recorded a time of 1:45.43 on a course rated yielding. Owned in partnership by Hollendorfer, Mark DeDomenico and William DeBurgh, City to City earned $17,400.

City to City, a $50,000 yearling purchase, has earned $56,470 in eight starts while amassing three wins, two seconds and a third.

Jockey Russell Baze and trainer William E. Morey both won three races Thursday. Baze captured the third race with Zohan ($2.80), the fourth with Grylis ($5.20), and the sixth with Lordgivemealift ($4.60). Morey, who trains both Grylis and Lordgivemealift, also won the eighth race with Salsa Express ($5.60).

Racing continues at Golden Gate Fields Friday. Post time is 12:45 p.m.

-Golden Gate Fields, goldengatefields.com

January 4, 2010 - Hawaiian Springs Gets Two Turns

ARCADIA, Calif. - Want to be an important 3-year-old at Santa Anita? Then you have to run long, and you have to beat Bob Baffert. Hawaiian Springs, a splashy debut winner trained by Kathy Walsh, will try to do both Wednesday when he stretches to 1 1/16 miles in race 6, a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds.

Seven entered, including two trained by Baffert - fast maiden sprint winner Quiet Invader and seasoned two-turn runner The Program, whose three routes include a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity.

Baffert considers both "live" Wednesday but said their 2010 campaigns likely will dodge top-ranked stablemates Lookin at Lucky, Conveyance, Tiz Chrome, and Take Control. After Wednesday, Quiet Invader and The Program may have to pack their bags. "They both have Tex Sutton written all over them," Baffert said.

Hawaiian Springs, meanwhile, will stay home. His impressive debut one month ago at Hollywood Park suggested he has the ingredients to become a top colt running two turns.

"I think [two turns] will be his game," Walsh said.

Early evidence supports the notion.

Hawaiian Springs is by the good distance sire Stephen Got Even, and Walsh looked for a debut at seven furlongs before settling for 6 1/2 furlongs on Dec. 6. He went in with a sketchy work tab due to minor unspecified issues and wore front wraps, which Walsh uses frequently on main-track starters. The colt proceeded to run like a seasoned pro.

Racing inside and behind horses, Hawaiian Springs swung outside for the drive, powered from last to first, and won going away. Two turns? Bring it on.

"The way he galloped out, you would think he will route," Walsh said. "I really like this colt." Joe Talamo rides Hawaiian Springs, who has two solid works since his debut.

Baffert's two starters Wednesday are the pace of the race. Quiet Invader stretches out following a front-running sprint win, but with patient Garrett Gomez aboard, strategy is unclear. Quiet Invader was sired by Songandaprayer, and Baffert is realistic enough to be satisfied "if he can go a mile, mile and a sixteenth."

The Program's development has been static, but the one-paced colt could be tough to beat if he reproduces his fourth-place finish from the Futurity. Martin Garcia rides.

The other starters are Majestic Afleet, Kettle River, Coloursoftheglen, and Circle Drive.

-Daily Racing Form, drf.com

January 4, 2010 - Blind Luck Leads Hollendorfer Work Brigade

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer sent out a squadron of stakes performers for works over the Pro-Ride at Santa Anita on Sunday. Chief among them was multiple Grade 1 star BLIND LUCK (Pollard's Vision), who traveled a half-mile in :50 with jockey Rafael Bejarano aboard.

"She was really, really good the last quarter," assistant trainer Dan Ward said following the filly's 6:20 a.m. (PST) exercise.

Successful in the Oak Leaf S. (G1) in October and most recently an impressive seven-length romper in the December 20 Hollywood Starlet S. (G1), Blind Luck figures to be named an Eclipse Award finalist on Wednesday for champion two-year-old filly of 2009. The chestnut also finished second in the Darley Debutante S. (G1) and third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies ( 1).

Blind Luck is expected to make her three-year-old debut in the Las Virgenes S. (G1) at one mile on February 6.

-brisnet.com

December 21, 2009 - Blind Luck Shoots Home In Starlet

Mark DeDomenico LLC, John Carver and Jerry Hollendorfer's Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision) launched an explosive move rounding the turn of Sunday's $405,250 Hollywood Starlet (G1), opening up on the field through the lane while running on her left lead, then switched to her right lead and pulled away by seven lengths on the wire. Jockey Rafael Bejarano's only job was to stay aboard the chestnut miss as she completed 1 1/16 miles on the Cushion Track in 1:41 4/5.

"Wow!" Bejarano exclaimed. "I worked her the last four times and she's been unbelievable in the morning. She's been relaxing so well in her works and has been showing a big turn of foot. She did the same thing today. I think she's going to be a real good filly. I had so much horse I wanted to wait as long as I could. When I asked her a little she showed me a big turn of foot."

Rose Catherine (Speightstown) led the way through the early part of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on November 6 and was determined to set the pace once again in the Starlet. The dark bay filly held a length advantage over Amen Hallelujah (Montbrook) through splits of :23 1/5, :46 2/5 and 1:10 4/5, while Blind Luck was content to run near the rear while saving ground on the inside.

As the field approached the second turn, Blind Luck was momentarily forced to wait as she encountered a wall of horses, but Bejarano merely angled his mount to the outside and the filly took off. Opening up on the field by midstretch, the juvenile lass easily scored her second Grade 1 victory following a 2 1/2-length win in Oak Leaf S. (G1) during the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meet.

"That was exciting," Hollendorfer said in an understatement. "I've never seen her move like that. We were hoping to run in all the Grade 1's and I think this stamps her up pretty good as one of the contenders.

"It's a big advantage that Rafael (Bejarano) likes to come and work our horses. He's worked this filly every time. Now he knows her very well. The more a rider knows a horse the more they are in sync. If she looks like she's doing well between races we might wait for the (February 6) Las Virgenes (G1). Our long range goal is the Kentucky Oaks (G1)."

Sent off the 9-5 second choice, Blind Luck paid $5.60, $3.20 and $2.60 to her supporters while keying the $36.30 exacta ($1), $210.10 trifecta ($1) and $764.50 superfecta ($1) (3-1-4-2). Miss Heather Lee (Trippi), the 19-1 longest shot in the seven-filly field, was never far back of the initial pace while in third and held best of the early runners to return $11.20 and $6.40. It was another three parts of a length back to Amen Hallelujah, who was worth $5.40 at 9-1. It Tiz (Tiznow), Bickersons (Silver Deputy) and Rose Catherine followed the top three under the wire while Beautician (Dehere), the 8-5 favorite, was eased in the stretch to finish last.

"She wasn't very happy today," said jockey Garrett Gomez of Beautician, whom he was riding for the first time. "I didn't know her very well, but she was just weak turning for home. At the three-eighths she weakened on me very bad. I moved on her a couple of times but she just staggered. I just took care of her after that."

Blind Luck began her career in maiden claiming company, capturing her debut by 13 1/4 lengths for a $40,000 tag at Calder. Sold soon after to her current connections and shipped to California, the chestnut would go on under Hollendorfer's tutelage to add a starter allowance at Del Mar to her line. She made her stakes bow in the Darley Debutante (G1), rallying to just miss by a length, then captured the Oak Leaf on October 4.

Blind Luck was given a shot at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), but was forced to steady in the first turn of that 1 1/16-mile event. She put in another game rally down the stretch to draw within a half-length of pacesetter Always a Princess (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]), but was passed late by winner She Be Wild (Offlee Wild) and Beautician, who just had a head in front to take second. Blind Luck decisively avenged that loss in this one, and boosted her earnings to $709,050 to go along with a 6-4-1-1 career mark.

Bred by Fairlawn Farm in Kentucky, Blind Luck passed through the sales ring twice, bringing $11,000 as a Fasig-Tipton July yearling and RNAing for $10,000 at the OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training in April. The chestnut lass is the first registered foal out of the winning Lucky One (Best of Luck), who has since produced an unnamed Orientate yearling colt.

Lucky One is a half-sister to 2002 Swale S. (G3) hero Ethan Man (Glitterman), while her dam, Twilight Spectre (Imp Society), is herself a half-sibling to multiple Grade 2 victor Chas Conerly (Big Burn) and multiple Grade 3-placed Gainzer (Turkoman). Also of note in the family is Burn's Return (Big Burn), queen of the 1979 Monmouth Oaks (G1).

-Bloodstock Journal, brisnet.com

December 17, 2009 - Beautician, Blind Luck Renew Acquaintances In Starlet

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Beautician and Blind Luck, second and third, respectively, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, head a talented field of seven fillies in Sunday’s $405,250 Hollywood Starlet as the 27-day Autumn Meet concludes at Hollywood Park.

The two will be joined by two other Breeders’ Cup starters in the Grade I Starlet — Juvenile Fillies Turf runner-up Rose Catherine and Juvenile Fillies tenth-place finisher Bickersons, who won the Moccasin Stakes here in her most recent start.

Trainer Ken McPeek has given two-time Eclipse Award winner Garrett Gomez the call on Beautician, taking over for Robby Albarado, while Rafael Bejarano will be aboard Blind Luck for the first time as Tyler Baze underwent finger surgery in mid-November.

The field for the 29th running of the Starlet, which will be run at 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track, lines up as follows:

Miss Heather Lee, Victor Espinoza; It Tiz, Joel Rosario; Blind Luck, Bejarano; Amen Hallelujah, Alex Solis; Bickersons, Joe Talamo; Rose Catherine, Javier Castellano, and Beautician, Gomez. All carry 120 pounds.

Beautician is the richest filly in the field with $486,625 in earnings. Most of that came in the Breeders’ Cup, where she finished a head in front of Blind Luck. She broke her maiden in her first start on June 5 at Churchill Downs, then had a pair of seconds in the Schuylerville and Spinaway at Saratoga and a fifth in the Alcibiades at Keeneland.

Blind Luck entered the Juvenile Fillies with three wins in four starts and was the 7-2 favorite. She was steadied on the first turn and raced wide most of the way while finishing three-quarters of a length back of winner She Be Wild. Prior to that, the daughter of Pollard’s Vision finished second in the Debutante at Del Mar and won the Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita. Never worse than third, the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained filly enters the Starlet with $465,900 in earnings.

Todd Pletcher-trained Rose Catherine will be shifting back to the main track after two big efforts on turf. She drew off to break her maiden by 8 ¾ lengths in a six-furlong turf race at Belmont in October, then led most of the way before settling for second in the one-mile Juvenile Fillies Turf. The daughter of Speightstown will be making her first start on a synthetic surface in the Starlet after running on the main track at Belmont Park and Saratoga in her first two starts.

Bickersons, Miss Heather Lee and It Tiz finished one-two-three, respectively, in the seven-furlong Moccasins here in November. Bickersons, a Canadian-bred daughter of Silver Deputy, was third in the Spinaway and third in the Oak Leaf prior to finishing tenth in the Juvenile Fillies. The Moccasin victory extended her West Coast stay. Miss Heather Lee will be supplemented at a cost of $20,000. She has won two of four starts, while It Tiz has won twice in five starts.

Amen Hallelujah makes her first start since finishing third in the Alcibiades in her initial start for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. Prior to that, she won two of four starts for Steve Asmussen at Arlington Park.

The Starlet will be run as the ninth of ten races on Sunday at Hollywood Park. First post is at 12:30 p.m.

-hollywoodpark.com

November 7, 2009 - Dancing in Silks prevails in Breeders' Cup Sprint*

Dancing in Silks prevailed in a blanket finish to win Saturday's $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita. Ridden by Joel Rosario, the 25-1 longshot covered the six-furlongs in 1:08.14 on the synthetic track.

Cost of Freedom with Tyler Baze set the pace in the Sprint with 2008 runner-up Fatal Bullet in second and 9-5 favorite Zensational racing in third. At the top of the stretch Cost of Freedom was joined on the lead by Dancing in Silks and Gayego. Coming along the inside late was Crown of Thorns.

All four horses hit the wire virtually together. The win-photo showed that Dancing in Silks got his nose at the wire first followed by Crown of Thorns, Cost of Freedom and Gayego.

Dancing in Silks is owned by Ken Kinakin and trained by Carla Gaines. The four-year-old gelding collects $1 million for the victory to bring his career earnings to $1.4 million. The Sprint is his fourth straight win and seventh in 13 lifetime starts.

Dancing in Silks returned $52.60, $19.20 and $12.00. Crown of Thorns paid $13.20 and $8.60, and Cost of Freedom paid $9.20 to show.

-The Sports Network, The Miami Herald

*Dancing in Silks was broke and trained at Pegasus Training and Equine Rehabilitaion Center.

November 6, 2009 - Hollendorfer's hopes dashed in Breeders' Cup

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer's attempt to break through on one of horse racing's major stages appeared possible when Blind Luck rallied toward the lead in the early stretch of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Friday at Santa Anita.

"I thought she could win at that point," Hollendorfer said in a phone interview.

But She Be Wild advanced through a small opening on the rail and went on to win by three-quarters of a length for her fourth win in five starts. Beautician then edged Blind Luck by a head for second.

Blind Luck earned $198,000 for her third-place finish to increase her career total to $465,900 - all but $9,900 of that coming after Hollendorfer arranged to buy her along with partners Mark DeDomenico and John Carver off of a 13 1/4-length victory in her debut at Calder Race Course. The 2-year-old filly was the 7-to-2 favorite Friday. All of Hollendorfer's previous 10 starters in Triple Crown or Breeders' Cup races were longshots.

"This was a great opportunity and we didn't get it done," Hollendorfer said. "I know we have things to look forward to with this horse, but I don't like to lose any race."

Hollendorfer salvaged his day with Tuscan Evening's win ($9.80) in the Grade 2, $200,000 Las Palmas Handicap. He has another Breeders' Cup race with Chocolate Candy in today's Dirt Mile.

Briefly: Life Is Sweet sped to a powerful victory in the Ladies' Classic. ... Rosemary Homeister Jr. came within a nose of becoming the second woman jockey to win a Breeders' Cup race, but she and Cloudy's Night were edged by Man of Iron in the Marathon. Julie Krone won the Juvenile Fillies with Halfbridled in 2003. ... Informed Decision made it 7-for-7 on synthetic surfaces with a 1 1/4-length victory over defending champion Ventura in the Filly & Mare Sprint.

-Larry Stumes, Special to The Chronicle (San Franciso Chronicle)

October 4, 2009 - Blind Luck handles switch to route

ARCADIA, Calif.- After her winning performance in Sunday's $300,000 Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting, it is hard to believe that Blind Luck started out in a maiden claimer at Calder back in June.

"That happens sometimes, but not very often," trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

Blind Luck ($9) made an impressive transition from sprinter to router in the Grade 1 Oak Leaf over 1 1/16 miles, the leading prep for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies here on Nov. 6.

Blind Luck was given a confident ride by jockey Tyler Baze. He kept the filly on the rail until the end of the backstretch, and rallied three-wide on the turn to reach contention in early stretch. With a sharp closing kick, Blind Luck pulled away late to win by 2 1/2 lengths, finishing in 1:43.19.

"She really closed nicely," Hollendorfer said.

Always a Princess, the winner of a maiden race over 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Sept. 5, set a moderate pace of 23.04 and 47.59 seconds and held on for second. "She looked like she was going to give it up, but she kept going," trainer Bob Baffert said.

Always a Princess broke from the rail and jockey Garrett Gomez said he had little choice but to send her to the front.

"We knew the pace wouldn't be 44," Gomez said. "She did what she was supposed to do."

The New Jersey invader Bickersons, third in the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 6, finished third in the field of 11 after stalking the pace throughout. The first three finishers are bound for the BC Juvenile Fillies.

Blind Luck is co-owned by Hollendorfer, Mark DeDomenico, and John Carver. By Pollard's Vision, Blind Luck has won 3 of 4 starts and $267,900. In her debut, she won a $40,000 claimer for maidens over 4 1/2 furlongs by 13 1/4 lengths at Calder on June 21.

Blind Luck's only loss was a second to Mi Sueno in the Grade 1 Darley Debutante over seven furlongs at Del Mar on Sept. 5, her stakes debut.

-Steve Andersen, Daily Racing Form