Blind Luck Rolls To Seven-Length Victory In Hollywood Starlet

Second-choice Blind Luck made her own luck Sunday in the $405,250 Hollywood Starlet, making an explosive move early in the stretch and drawing away under a hand ride by jockey Rafael Bejarano to win the Grade I event by a widening seven lengths.

The chestnut daughter of Pollards Vision was well back much of the way while running along the rail, but easily moved into contention when moved outside on the far turn by Bejarano. The Starlet seemed wide open for a split second as the field turned for home, but Blind Luck quickly put the issue to rest with her exhilarating move.

She covered 1 1/16 miles Cushion Track in 1:41.96 and was full of run at the wire, continuing to draw farther and farther away from her six rivals after crossing the wire.

Wow! I worked her the last four times and shes been unbelievable in the morning, Bejarano said. Shes been relaxing so well in her works and has been showing a big turn of foot. She did the same thing today. I think shes going to be a real good filly. I had so much horse I wanted to wait as long as I could. When I asked her a little she showed me a big turn of foot.

The victory was the fourth in six starts for the Kentucky-bred filly, who finished third — beaten less than one length — while making her previous start in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies in November.

Blind Luck, ridden by Bejarano for the first time with Tyler Baze recuperating from finger surgery, paid $5.60, $3.20 and $2.60. Miss Heather Lee returned $11.20 and $6.40, while the show payoff on Amen Hallelujah was $5.40. Favorite Beautician, the runner-up in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies, began to fade on the turn for home and finished last.

Blind Luck, owned by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer in partnership with Mark DeDomenico and John Carver, banked $243,150 to increase her earnings to $709,050. Purchased after breaking her maiden in her first career start for a claiming tag of $40,000 in June, she won her first start for her new owners on July 29 at Del Mar before finishing second to Mi Sueno in the Darley Debutante. She became a Grade I winner in the Oak Leaf at Santa Anita one start before the Breeders Cup.

That was exciting, Hollendorfer said. Ive never seen her move like that. We were hoping to run in all the Grade I races and I think this stamps her up pretty good as one of the contenders. Its a big advantage that Rafael likes to come and work our horses. Hes worked this filly every time. Now he knows her very well. The more a rider knows a horse the more they are in sync. If she looks like shes doing well between races we might wait for the Las Virgenes. Our long range goal is the Kentucky Oaks.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Hollywood Park
• Blind Luck
• Rafael Bejarano
• Jerry Hollendorfer

[incrediblehelp]

Look at Blind Luck's tail in the stretch, wow she was ready to go.

[gallupout]

OMG!!! What a burst of speed Blind Luck shows... Running down the stretch, she looks like a quarter horse does right after the gates open in a 4f. INCREDIBLE!

[WideEyedDreamer22]

that's insulting, SHE IS NOT A QUATER HORSE!!!>:(

[bigbonez72]

Lol race calling @ 1:40

[205seeme]

@gallupout Looked like that Jockey put a Hot Poker to her Hiney!!lmao...She took off so fast she almost ran out from under her Jockey!

[Horses4ever8]

@205seeme yea she really is lol

[205seeme]

@Horses4ever8 Rachel is going to be in the Ladies Classic this year running against Blind Luck..I love RA but she might as well hang it up and retire to the breeding shed because this Filly is going to dust her.

[jhordanian]

This was easily the best performance by a 2 year old filly last year, particularly around 2 turns. And Blind Luck's validated this race by winning the gr.1 Las Virgenes in California, gr.1 Kentucky Oaks, and gr.1 Alabama in New York as a 3 year old. She's also won gr.2 stakes in Arkansas and Delaware.

[shanemooneyboyo]

That was sick

[SpiritRider1303]

Good Lord! That was pretty amazing!

[Horses4ever8]

GOD DAMN WHAT A BURST OF SPEED!

[8whippets]

Guess she proved herself today in the Oaks!