JC / Railbird

Alabama Stakes

That’s the Spirit

Mark Dedomenico, co-owner of Blind Luck, on the filly’s ambitious campaign:

“No one can say this horse won’t run anywhere; we’re not the kind to duck anybody…. We’re doing everything and going every place because this time we want the Eclipse Award.”

Posted in Racing on August 24, 2010 / Tagged Alabama Stakes, Blind Luck, Campaigning, Distaffers, Eclipse Awards, Sportsmanship

Tough Luck

That really was a hard-luck half-length loss for Gio Ponti in the Million:

Faster than the winner Debussy at the three latter points of call in the 10-furlong race, but it’s the final time (and the trip!) that matters …

Another for the so-close file: If not for Blind Luck’s nose in the Kentucky Oaks, Evening Jewel would be an all Grade 1 Omnisurface Star after taking the Del Mar Oaks by a half-length over American Oaks winner Harmonious. Instead, she dominates the 2+ITM chart. Not for long, I’d wager.

“It seems like we have the best 3-year-old filly, right now,” said trainer Jerry Hollendorfer after Blind Luck won the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga. “[But] I hate to make those kinds of assessments.” There’s no reason for him to feel reluctant, not when his late-running filly overcame an absurdly slow pace (:49.45 for the half, 1:14.81 for three-quarters) to take her third Grade 1 stakes victory of the year. That’s the right kind of tough luck:

Posted in Racing on August 22, 2010 / Tagged Alabama Stakes, Arlington Million, Blind Luck, Evening Jewel, Fractions, Gio Ponti, Omnisurface Stars