The toughest, most watched female thoroughbred rivalry give Blind Luck edge over Havre de Grace in the Delaware Handicap
The best two older females in thoroughbred racing, Blind Luck and Havre de Grace, converted a boring summer re-run into an intriguing, edge of the seat horse race.
Edging out Havre de Grace by a nose, Blind Luck reinstated her supremacy over her closest rival in the Grade 2 $750,000 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park on 16 July.
It was a similar story as the last summer’s Delaware Oaks where Blind Luck defeated Havre de Grace by a nose.
It was too close for comfort, as the Southern Californian queen, ridden by jockey Garrett Gomez lived up to all the pre race expectation and went on to barely defeat her archrival, Havre de Grace, who was ridden by R A Dominguez.
It was Blind Luck’s 12th victory in all of her 21 starts in her 3-year career.
The win earned Pollard’s Vision filly an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic, because Delaware Handicap is part of the Win and You’re In program.
In the massive purse of $750,000, the winners share was a whopping $450,000 which pushed her career earnings to $3,279,520.
Blind Luck atoned for the 3 ¼ length defeat she suffered by Havre de Grace when the two fillies last came head-to-head in the Grade 3 Azeri at Oaklawn Park on 19 March.
In a small field of five fillies and mares, Garrett Gomez said that the modest pace she had obtained during the race was much of a disadvantage, because Havre de Grace looked like a clear winner after over taking Life at Ten for the lead.
Blind Luck, much like the 2010 Delaware Oaks made a late, late run as she was behind Havre de Grace by considerable lengths, but as soon as Havre de Grace took over as the leader, something instilled in her brain that she had to win the race.
Holding off her pace at first, Blind Luck and Garrett Gomez gave it a final surge and reached Havre de Grace with immense pace.
The duo rallied valiantly and the unfortunate Saint Liam filly, Havre de Grace, lost by an inch, a déjà vu all over again.
Ramon Dominguez consolidated the loss by saying she fought well, gave it her all against Blind Luck whereas Garrett Gomez described her filly to be as quick as they come, he said you tell her to go and she points her ear back and asks, “Where is the wire”
and in two jumps she gathers enough to take on the field.
Jerry Hollendorfer, Blind Luck’s trainer exclaimed that a six week rest for the filly is in store for her near future as she gets shipped back to California.
Hollendorfer pointed that the next target would be the Personal Ensign at Saratoga at 1 ¼ miles on 28 August.
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