Blind Luck (foaled April 20, 2007 in
Kentucky
Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...
) is an American
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...
racehorse
Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic pr ...
.
Background
Blind Luck is a daughter of
Pollard's Vision, winner of the
Illinois Derby
The Illinois Derby is a race for Thoroughbred horses for three year olds run over a distance of one and one-eighth miles (9 furlongs) on the dirt at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney/Cicero, Illinois, just west of Chicago in early April each year. ...
and the
Lone Star Derby, and Lucky One.
Blind Luck was purchased for $11,000 as a yearling at the
Fasig-Tipton
The Fasig-Tipton Company, Inc. is an American auction house for Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses. Founded in 1898, it is the oldest auction company of its kind in North America. The company has offices in Lexington, Kentucky, Elkton, Maryla ...
Kentucky Select Sale of 2008 and is now owned by her trainer,
Jerry Hollendorfer
Jerry Hollendorfer (born June 18, 1946, in Akron, Ohio) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse Horse trainer, trainer whose notable horses include Eclipse Award winners Blind Luck, Shared Belief and Songbird (horse), Songbird. He has the most wins ...
, as well as Mark Dedomenico, John Carver, and Peter Abruzzo.
Racing career
2009: two-year-old season
Blind Luck won four of her six career juvenile starts. Two of her wins were in
Grade I
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
stakes races: the
Oak Leaf Stakes
The Chandelier Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at the end of September at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is restricted to two-year-old fillies. The Grade II race is contested at a distance of one and one- ...
and the
Hollywood Starlet Stakes
The Starlet Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old fillies run over a distance distance of one and one sixteenth miles ( furlongs) on the dirt held annually in early December at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, C ...
. She also placed third in the Grade I
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies is a -mile thoroughbred horse race on dirt (although the distance has varied, depending on the configuration of the host track) for two-year-old fillies run annually since 1984 at a different racetrack in the Uni ...
behind Shebewild and second in the Grade I
Del Mar Debutante Stakes
The Del Mar Debutante Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old fillies run each year in early September at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. A Grade I event since 1999, the Debutante is raced on dirt at a distance of s ...
to
Mi Sueno.
2010: three-year-old season
Blind Luck made her 3-year-old debut a winning one in the Grade I
Las Virgenes Stakes
The Las Virgenes Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over the distance of one mile on the dirt scheduled annually in late January or early February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The eve ...
where she rallied to win by a nose over
Evening Jewel
Evening Jewel (foaled February 26, 2007, in California) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse by Northern Afleet out of Jewel of the Night by Giant's Causeway. Northern Afleet is also the sire of 2005 Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes winner ...
. In the Grade I, $250,000
Santa Anita Oaks
Santa Anita Oaks is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to three-year-old fillies willing to race 8.5 furlongs ( miles) on the dirt. The race is a Grade II even ...
, Blind Luck closed well but found herself trapped on the inside until the final sixteenth of a mile. She rallied late but fell short by 3/4 lengths, coming in third behind Crisp and All Due Respect. In the Grade II
Fantasy Stakes
The Fantasy Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually usually in early April at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The ...
at
Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Plantation may refer to:
*Oaklawn (Huntsville, Alabama), listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)
*Oaklawn Plantation (Leon County, Florida)
*Oaklawn Plantation (Natchez, Louisiana)
The Oaklawn Plantation is a historic pl ...
on April 3, she won as a come-from-behind favorite, taking the race by 2½ lengths. The 136th running of the Grade I
Kentucky Oaks
The Kentucky Oaks is a Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred Filly, fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers at Churchill Downs; the horses carry . The Kentucky O ...
took place on April 30, 2010, on Churchill Downs' traditional dirt course. Blind Luck was listed as a 6-5 morning-line favorite in a field of 14 and broke from post 5 with regular jockey
Rafael Bejarano
Rafael Bejarano (born June 23, 1982 in Arequipa, Peru) is a champion jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He trained at the Peruvian national riding school before embarking on his professional career in 1999. Having met with success, inclu ...
aboard. After checking in last for the first half of the race, she came home strongly to catch
Evening Jewel
Evening Jewel (foaled February 26, 2007, in California) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse by Northern Afleet out of Jewel of the Night by Giant's Causeway. Northern Afleet is also the sire of 2005 Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes winner ...
at the wire to win the Oaks. Her time for the 1 1/8-mile race was 1:50.70.
Blind Luck returned to racing in the first week in June in the Grade II
Hollywood Oaks
The Summertime Oaks is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in June at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Grade II event is open to three-year-old fillies willing to race on dirt at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles. ...
. There she lost by 1½ lengths to
Switch
In electrical engineering, a switch is an electrical component that can disconnect or connect the conducting path in an electrical circuit, interrupting the electric current or diverting it from one conductor to another. The most common type of ...
when unable to catch that rival in the stretch. Blind Luck then shipped into Delaware Park for the Grade II
Delaware Oaks
The Delaware Oaks Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid July at Delaware Park Racetrack in Stanton near Wilmington, Delaware.
Part of the Del Cap Festival Weekend that features other races over the two days including ...
, which she won by a nose over
Havre de Grace in late-running fashion. She remained undefeated on dirt and won over a sloppy track. In the Grade I, 1 1/4-mile
Alabama Stakes
The Alabama Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies. Inaugurated in 1872, the Grade I race is run over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the dirt track at Saratoga Race Course. Held in mid August, it cu ...
at Saratoga on August 21, a showdown between Blind Luck and the odds-on choice,
Devil May Care, believed to be the best 3-year-old filly on the East Coast, never materialized as Devil May Care finished 4th. Instead Blind Luck ran down Havre de Grace, her foe from the
Delaware Oaks
The Delaware Oaks Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid July at Delaware Park Racetrack in Stanton near Wilmington, Delaware.
Part of the Del Cap Festival Weekend that features other races over the two days including ...
, to win by a neck.
On October 2, Blind Luck faced Havre de Grace again in the Grade II
Cotillion Stakes
The Cotillion Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Parx Racing and Casino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. It is run in late September or early October as a prelude to the annual Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. ...
at Parx. Second choice Havre de Grace held off Blind Luck by a neck. Blind Luck took on older fillies and mares for the first time in the Grade I
Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic
The Breeders' Cup Distaff is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up. Known as the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic between 2008 and 2012, it is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or ...
at Churchill Downs. Racing under lights for the first time, she settled in 10th position in the 11-horse field. Forced to chase a slow pace, Blind Luck released her customary rally only to come up 1 lengths short of 4-year-old filly
Unrivaled Belle
Unrivaled Belle (foaled 2006) is a gray/roan American Thoroughbred racehorse owned and bred in Kentucky by Gary Seidler & Peter Vegso. She is a daughter of champion sire and champion racehorse Unbridled's Song, a descendant of the very influent ...
, while Havre de Grace was 3rd.
2011: four-year-old season
In her 4 year old debut, Blind Luck started in the Grade II
El Encino Stakes
The El Encino Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run between 1954 and 2011 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to four-year-old fillies, it was raced over a distance of miles (8.5 furlongs) on the synthetic Cushion Trac ...
at
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a Thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent horse racing events in the United States during early fall, winter and in spring. The track is home to numerous prestigious races ...
, finishing second to
Always a Princess. Blind Luck again finished second to Always a Princess in the Grade II
La Cañada Stakes
The La Cañada Stakes is a Grade III American thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age four-years-old and older over a distance of one-and-one-sixteenth miles on the dirt track held annually in January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Ca ...
at
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a Thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent horse racing events in the United States during early fall, winter and in spring. The track is home to numerous prestigious races ...
. On March 19, Blind Luck renewed her rivalry with Havre De Grace in the Grade III
Azeri Stakes at
Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Plantation may refer to:
*Oaklawn (Huntsville, Alabama), listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)
*Oaklawn Plantation (Leon County, Florida)
*Oaklawn Plantation (Natchez, Louisiana)
The Oaklawn Plantation is a historic pl ...
. This time Havre De Grace won, leaving their race record against each other as Blind Luck with two wins and Havre De Grace with two. (Blind Luck also finished second to Havre De Grace's third in the 2010
Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic
The Breeders' Cup Distaff is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up. Known as the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic between 2008 and 2012, it is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or ...
). Blind Luck's connections opted to skip the Grade I
Apple Blossom Handicap
The Apple Blossom Handicap is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are four years old or older, run under handicap conditions over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt track held annually in April ...
, which Havre De Grace won over California filly
Switch
In electrical engineering, a switch is an electrical component that can disconnect or connect the conducting path in an electrical circuit, interrupting the electric current or diverting it from one conductor to another. The most common type of ...
. Snapping a five-race losing streak, on May 6, Blind Luck took the Grade II
La Troienne Stakes
The La Troienne Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, age four and older, over a distance of miles held annually in early May on the Kentucky Oaks day meeting at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky du ...
at
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex located on Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, famed for hosting the annual Kentucky Derby. It officially opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was ...
, catching 2010
Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic
The Breeders' Cup Distaff is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up. Known as the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic between 2008 and 2012, it is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or ...
winner and reigning
American Champion Older Female Unrivaled Belle
Unrivaled Belle (foaled 2006) is a gray/roan American Thoroughbred racehorse owned and bred in Kentucky by Gary Seidler & Peter Vegso. She is a daughter of champion sire and champion racehorse Unbridled's Song, a descendant of the very influent ...
in the final strides after stumbling badly at the start. Rallying from last, Blink Luck won her 6th career Grade I in the
Vanity Handicap
The Beholder Mile Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares aged three and up. It is run over a distance of one mile on the dirt each year in March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
History
The event wa ...
at
Hollywood Park Hollywood Park may refer to:
Places United States
* Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California
* Hollywood Park, Chicago, a neighborhood in North Park, Chicago, Illinois
* Hollywood Park, Inglewood, an entertainment complex and m ...
. Blind Luck won the Delaware Handicap by a nose over her archrival Havre de Grace after a lengthy stretch duel. This put their race record at 3 wins for Blind Luck and 2 for Havre de Grace.
Life at Ten, 2010's Delaware Handicap winner, finished 18 lengths further back in third.
Blind Luck returned to the races on Saturday, October 1 in the Lady's Secret Stakes at Santa Anita's autumn meeting. After breaking slowly as usual, she dropped far behind and lost contact with the field on the second turn. She finished an uncharacteristic last place in the field of seven fillies and mares, the first time in her career she had been worse than third. This poor performance rendered her out of the Breeders' Cup. Tests and scans taken on her reportedly revealed that nothing was physically wrong.
Breeding
On January 27, 2012, Blind Luck was officially retired from racing and booked to
Darley stallion
Bernardini Bernadini can mean:
* Bernardini (horse), thoroughbred race horse, at Darley Stable in Kentucky
* Bernardini (company), safe manufacturer which operated from 1912 to 1992
* Bernardini (surname), family name of Italian origin
See also
* Bern ...
. She delivered a filly named I'm The Reason on January 19, 2013.
On February 6, 2014, Blind Luck delivered a colt by
Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. It is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles (5 km) northeast of ...
named I'm a Lucky Guy. She gave birth to her third foal, a filly by Giant's Causeway, on January 15, 2016. she was Bred to Curlin for 2018
Races
References
{{Reflist
Blind Luck pedigree and partial racing stats
2007 racehorse births
Racehorses bred in Kentucky
Racehorses trained in the United States
Kentucky Oaks winners
Thoroughbred family 11-f