Blind Luck likely to race in Pacific Classic at Del Mar

Make way for the lady in this year’s Grade I, $1 million TVG Pacific Classic.
And we’re not talking about jockey Chantal Sutherland, who is scheduled to ride Game On Dude for trainer Bob Baffert in the Classic
It’s looking more and more likely that Eclipse Award-winning Blind Luck is going to race against the boys in the Grade I, $1 million TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 28.
Hollendorfer, fresh off his induction into the Hall of Fame, is not saying it for sure, but the buzz around the trainer’s barn Wednesday was that he is “99 percent sure” Blind Luck will race in the Classic and not ship to Saratoga or Monmouth to race against females.
“It’s looking more and more like a possibility,” said Hollendorfer’s assistant Dan Ward.
Hollendorfer will consult with Blind Luck owners Mark DeDomenico, John Carver and Peter Abruzzo next week and then make the final decision.
Blind Luck worked 6 furlongs in 1:13.40 handily Wednesday on the Polytrack. Hollendorfer termed the workout, done solo with regular exercise rider Marco Ramirez, “nice and steady.”
There are a number of reasons why Hollendorfer likely will keep Blind Luck here to run. She won’t have to get on a plane, for one, and she’ll also get a five-pound allowance against the males in the race.
Plus, what more does he have to prove by running Blind Luck against females she’s already beaten? A win in the Pacific Classic would go a long way to qualifying Blind Luck for Horse of the Year consideration.
She presently is a horse hair behind Tizway in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s poll. Tizway has 181 points. Blind Luck has 180.
If Hollendorfer races Blind Luck in the Pacific Classic, the field would have three of the NTRA Poll’s Top 10 horses in her, sixth-ranked Game On Dude and eighth-ranked Twirling Candy
Blind Luck beat Havre de Grace by a nose in a thriller in the $765,000 Delaware Handicap in July. The win gave her an automatic bid in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic in November. A win in the TVG Pacific Classic earns her a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic for males.
Blind Luck has 12 wins from 21 starts and has earned $3,279,520. She has never finished worse than third. She has been first or second in 20 starts and was third once.
The Classic field is shaping up as a very good one with a number of very good storylines
So far, the list of possible starters includes Del Mar-stabled horses such as Game On Dude, winner of the Santa Anita Handicap, Caracortado, Twirling Candy, Acclamation, who won the Grade I Eddie Read Stakes on turf here on July 24, Bourbon Bay, winner of the Cougar II Handicap on July 31 and San Diego Handicap winner Tres Borrachos.


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