NEWS
Indian Blessing named top female sprinter
Posted: Monday, January 26, 2009 9:21 PM
INDIAN BLESSING
Benoit & Associates photo
by Frank Angst
A trio of Grade 1 victories in 2008 helped Indian Blessing to secure the second Eclipse Award of her career.
After wrapping up an undefeated two-year-old season with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) to secure champion two-year-old filly honors of 2007, Indian Blessing continued her brilliance in ’08 to pick up champion female sprinter honors.
After stretching out to two turns in the spring, Indian Blessing returned to sprinting in the summer and responded with three straight impressive stakes wins in New York.
The Indian Charlie filly won the Prioress Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, the Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, and the Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2) at Belmont. Indian Blessing won those three stakes by a combined 18 1/2 lengths. The Gallant Bloom marked Indian Blessing’s first career start against older horses.
Indian Blessing edged Ventura for champion honors despite finishing second to that foe in the Sentient Flight Group Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Santa Anita Park’s Pro-Ride surface. The majority of Ventura’s 2008 starts were on turf.
Indian Blessing then closed out her season with a victory in the La Brea Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita on December 27. For the year, Indian Blessing won all four of her dirt starts at seven furlongs or shorter. She won a total of six graded stakes.
Indian Blessing has been returned to training for 2009 and is preparing for a possible start against males in the Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) on March 28.
Frank Angst is a Thoroughbred Times senior writer
| 2008 record |
|
|
|
|
| Starts |
Wins |
Second |
Third |
Earnings |
| 9 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
$1,080,000 |
