Havre de Grace seeks redemption as she looks to challenge Blind Luck yet again in Personal Ensign if the price is right
Right after the Delaware Handicap triumph of Blind Luck over her archrival, Havre de Grace, the round 7 of the best rivalry looks a possibility if the purse for Grade 1 $300,000 Personal Ensign at Saratoga on 28 August is doubled, said Fox Hill Farms’ Rick
Porter, owner of Havre de Grace.
Porter added that he would reconsider the possibility of a re-match if NYRA (New York Racing Association) doubles the purse. Right now the purse stands at $300,000, doubling it would go up to $600,000.
Both the owner and trainer, Larry Jones, were considering to run the Delaware Handicap's runner-up in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga race course on 3 September against males.
Woodward Stakes is an American Grade 1 Stakes race, run at 1/8 miles, approximately 9 furlongs. The race is run six days after the Grade 1 Personal Ensign.
Trainer and part owner of Blind Luck, Jerry Hollendorfer, said that his champion filly is now back to his barn at Del Mar after getting shipped from her win at Delaware Park and her most likely next run would be the Grade 1 Personal Ensign.
The two older fillies have developed quite a rivalry and they are the centre of horse racing news media each time they are up against each other.
Blind Luck has a leg over Havre de Grace, as the four-year-old filly leads the tally 3 to 2.
Blind Luck’s first win against Havre de Grace came in the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park on 7 October under jockey Joel Rosario. It was a fantastic run by the filly to take over Havre de Grace.
Late surge from the back helped Blind Luck to take. The next race was at Saratoga race track in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes, which proved to be another close encounter as Blind Luck barely made it to the wire before Havre de Grace by a neck.
The last win in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap for Blind Luck was atonement for her defeat by Havre de Grace in the Grade 3 Azeri.
Winning by a nose in her typical comeback-from-behind surge, aided Blind Luck to take the lead in a closely contested rivalry.
Havre de Grace has won twice in her three encounters with Blind Luck. The Grade 2 Fitz Dixon Cotillion was her first win over Blind Luck after two previous defeats. These three races were consecutive races for the two fillies.
Grade 3 Azeri was another proud moment for Havre de Grace. Both fillies fell victim to now retired Unrivalled Belle in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic at Churchill Downs.
Blind Luck finished second and Havre de Grace grabbed the third place.
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