NEWS

Blind Luck will be favored but challenged

Posted: Thursday, November 05, 2009 12:47 PM

BLIND LUCK

Benoit & Associates photo

by Mark Simon

In the seven times the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) has been held on the West Coast, a California-based filly has won it four times, including Stardom Bound last year.

California-based Indian Blessing won the Juvenile Fillies in 2007 at Monmouth Park and Blind Luck, winner of the Oak Leaf Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park, will try to make it three straight West Coast-based fillies when the race is run on Friday. More significantly for probable post-time favorite Blind Luck, the Juvenile Fillies has been won by the favorite the past seven years.

While Blind Luck has proven her affinity for the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita, she will be tested in a very competitive 12-horse field.

The early pace should be lively, with Always a Princess and Connie and Michael, two very lightly raced maiden winners, having an abundance of quality speed. Connie and Michael, an easy 7 3/4-length winner of her only start at Keeneland Race Course on October 17, is “freaky good,” according to her trainer, Ken McPeek.

“If she runs like she trains," he said, “they may be asking, ‘Rachel who?’ ”

Always a Princess, out of trainer Bob Baffert’s barn, made all the pace in the Oak Leaf and got tired late, beaten 2 1/2 lengths while finishing second. She had only a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight outing prior to that effort.

Principal challengers coming from the Midwest and East Coast, respectively, are Negligee, winner of the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, and Devil May Care, winner of the Frizette Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. Negligee defeated previously unbeaten She Be Wild on the Polytrack surface at Keeneland, while Devil May Care has made all of her starts on dirt.

A filly to watch is longshot Biofuel, who has a great closing kick. Her sweeping, seven-wide move from last to first in the Mazarine Stakes (Can-G3) on the Polytrack surface at Woodbine on October 10 was impressive.

Mark Simon is president and editor of THOROUGHBRED TIMES

Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies