NEWS
Indian Blessing returns to her roots in Test Stakes
Posted: Thursday, July 31, 2008 5:50 PM
INDIAN BLESSING
Benoit & Associates photo
by Ron Parker
As a two-year-old, Hal and Patti Earnhardt’s Indian Blessing won her maiden debut at Saratoga Race Course by 5 1/4 lengths, her only race at the Spa.
On Saturday, she returns to the scene of that impressive beginning and will face five three-year-old fillies in the $250,000 Test Stakes (G1).
The Indian Charlie filly ended her juvenile campaign with a perfect three-for-three record that culminated with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Monmouth Park and an Eclipse Award as champion two-year-old filly.
She has hardly missed a beat this year while translating her two-year-old form into a three-year-old campaign that has seen her win three graded stakes races, including a 5 ¼-length victory in the Prioress Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park in her most recent start.
Runner-up finishes to Proud Spell and Zaftig stand between Indian Blessing and a perfect record from her eight starts that have seen her bankroll climb to $1,847,200.
Trainer Bob Baffert, who will have a full-time string at Saratoga this year that includes some promising two-year-olds, was pleased with Indian Blessing’s return to the Saratoga Springs, New York, track.
“She’s doing well,” he said. “She looks good. She’s named right. She’s just been a blessing. It’s hard to get these types.”
Jockey John Velazquez, who first rode Indian Blessing in the Prioress, gets the return call.
Indian Blessing’s competitors for the seven-furlong Test fall well below her accomplishments with only one graded stakes winner in the field.
William Stiritz’s Palanka City brings a three-race winning streak to Saratoga.
After finishing fourth to the ill-fated Eight Belles in the Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park, the Carson City filly won an allowance race and the Prima Donna Stakes at the Hot Springs oval, then shipped to Pimlico Race Course for her graded stakes debut where she was a 5 ½-length winner in the Adena Stallions’ Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) on May 16.
Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
The field, in post-position order, with (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:
1. Tequilas Dayjur (Dayjur), Edgar Prado, 116, Thomas Moungey;
2. Palanka City (Carson City), Eibar Coa, 118, Barclay Tagg;
3. Sweet Hope (Lemon Drop Kid), Ramon Dominguez, 116, Larry Jones;
4. Ms. Margaret H. (Point Given), Robby Albarado, 116, Ian Wilkes;
5. J Z Warrior (Harlan's Holiday), Kent Desormeaux, 116, Bill Mott; and
6. Indian Blessing (Indian Charlie), John Velazquez, 122, Bob Baffert.
