Horse Betting World

Blind Luck Has No Luck in 2011 Debut

By Mike Dempsey

No horse earned as many frequent flyer miles as Blind Luck did in 2010, and the ambitious campaign will be rewarded Monday night in Miami Beach with an Eclipse Award for outstanding three-year-old filly.

The filly made her four-year-old debut on Sunday over the paved highway at Santa Anita, rallying to finish in the runner up spot in the $150,000 El Encino (G2), unable to catch Always a Princess in the stretch.

The racing surface was playing to speed throughout the day, as it has through much of the meeting, with times coming back fast and three track records already in the books.

Blind Luck could not overcome the speed bias and had to settle for the runner up spot as the beaten favorite, returning $2.40 and $2.10 to place and show.

The $2 exacta with Always a Princess on top returned $17.60.

Jerry Hollendorfer, the trainer and co-owner of Blind Luck, said. “If she got beat, it’s because of my training.”

The filly was making her first start off a 2 ½ month break, and will likely make her next start over a surface that will be more flattering to her late running style.

Blind Luck had a tremendous campaign in 2010, but came up 1 ¾ lengths short in a runner up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) in November at Churchill Downs, beaten by Unrivaled Belle.

In an era where top horses are raced sparingly, the filly made nine starts as a three-year-old, winning five starts and earning $1,679,662.

Based in California, she shipped to Oaklawn Park, Churchill Downs, Delaware Park, Saratoga, Philadelphia Park, and back to Churchill Downs.

She also made three starts in her home state, racing at Santa Anita (twice) and Hollywood Park.

The filly should easily and deservingly win the Eclipse Award Monday night over Evening Jewel and Havre de Grace.

Had she won the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, which would have given her four Grade 1 wins on the year, she probably would have garnered a few votes for Horse of the Year.

Big Drama, who likely will take down the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Sprinter, made his 2011 debut on Saturday at Gulfstream Park and had more success.

The David Fawkes trainee set a track record winning the $100,000 Mr. Prospector (G3), stopping the timer for the six furlong race in 1:08.12.

The five-year-old set the early fractions, was met by his main rival Custom for Carlos as they turned for home, and just when it appeared there was going to be a horse race, Big Drama pulled away to win by four lengths.

The winner returned $3.00 as the favorite, with the $2 exacta paying $6.40.

Eclipse Awards on TVG: Monday night’s Eclipse Awards will be televised live on TVG, with a preshow starting at 6:00 ET.

The three finalists for Horse of the Year are Blame, Goldikova, and Zenyatta.

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