NEWS
Ragozin Insider: Blind Luck tops three-year-old division
Posted: Friday, July 16, 2010 11:27 AM
BLIND LUCK
HoofprintsInc.com
by Bob Ehalt
Apparently the women’s movement in Thoroughbred racing is still going strong.
A year ago, Rachel Alexandra was the top three-year-old in every way.
Now in 2010, it’s another filly, Blind Luck, who at the very least rates as the nation’s fastest three-year-old of either sex.
With the second half of the three-year-old campaign poised to begin, the colts are once again playing catch-up with the ladies heading into races such as Swaps Stakes (G2) on Saturday at Hollywood Park and the $1-million IZOD Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) on August 1at Monmouth Park.
While the boys haven’t been pushed around this year like they were in 2009 by Rachel Alexandra in the BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell, Ragozin speed figures clearly give an edge to Blind Luck.
Blind Luck is coming off one of the year’s top performances: a nose victory on July 10 in the Delaware Oaks (G2) (video), in which a wide trip and top weight of 122 pounds earned her a Ragozin speed figure of 1.
In contrast, the fastest Ragozin figure in a Triple Crown race was Lookin At Lucky’s 4 in the Preakness, and Trickmeister, a colt considered to be an up-and-coming member of the three-year old class, earned a woeful 12 for his victory in the Barbaro Stakes at Delaware (video), two races prior to the Delaware Oaks.
“There’s no question Blind Luck is the fastest three-year-old,” said Len Friedman, a partner with Ragozin Thoroughbred Data. “And overall, the fillies might be better than the boys. This is a slow group of colts. They’re competitive and hard-hitting, but they’re a hard-hitting group that’s about two points slower than normal.”
As much as three different horses won this year’s Triple Crown races, none turned in a blistering performance. Super Saver’s 4¼ in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) (video) was the slowest winning figure in the Run for the Roses since 2005 and second-slowest since 1998.
Lookin At Lucky’s Preakness figure was the weakest in at least nine years (video), and Drosselmeyer, who is most likely sidelined for the year with an ankle injury, posted a lethargic 6 in the Belmont Stakes (G1) (video), matching Da’Tara’s below-par 2008 figure.
“The 2008 colts were slow but at least they had Big Brown,” Friedman said. “This year’s fastest horse was Eskendereya, who’s been retired. Without him, they’re a tad slower than the 2008 horses. There ain’t much here this year.”
With the Triple Crown horses failing to provide much flash, the door was left open for new faces to emerge. So far, there’s been mixed results.
A leading hopeful is Concord Point, whose 8½-length victory in the Iowa Derby (G3) (video) on June 26 netted him a 2 in his dirt debut. How he reacts to that stellar performance remains to be seen.
Trainer Bob Baffert elected to keep him out of the Swaps following a disappointing work on Wednesday, telling the Daily Racing Form, “He ran so hard last time. He’s still in the bounce mode.”
Perhaps Baffert was mindful of what happened to Trappe Shot after he ran a 1 in an allowance race on the Belmont Stakes undercard. Though Trappe Shot won the Long Branch by 2½ lengths on July 10 at Monmouth (video), he regressed to a 7 despite five weeks of rest. Though he might improve a bit in the Haskell, it will probably be a while before he circles back to that –if he ever does.
Tahitian Warrior was second behind Trappe Shot in the allowance race, receiving a 3½. He too returned to the races on July 10, winning in allowance company with a 5. While he also slipped from the June race, a small 1½ -point slide indicates he stands a better chance of matching or surpassing his top figure than Trappe Shot.
Given all of the 4s and 6s among Triple Crown veterans, those numbers could add up to an Eclipse Award in another year when it’s ladies first.
For more information on Ragozin speed figures, click here.
READER COMMENTS
|
|
|
Posted by: Tiznowbaby, San Antonio, TX on July 17, 2010 at 05:48 PM
I don't know if she could take them down head to head, but Blind Luck certainly is the most consistent 3YO running.
Report Abuse 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by: Rachel, Exeter, NH on July 17, 2010 at 06:42 AM
I have no idea why you men started using the term "ladies" and now "women's movement" to describe our beloved distaff members...fillies and mares or "the girls" suffice nicely and "The Distaff" had a classy ring to it. Only men.
Perhaps you should start calling the colts "gents" and "men".
PS Mother Theresa and my mom are ladies.
Report Abuse
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by: Don, Hayward, CA on July 16, 2010 at 07:59 PM
She's a throwback and all hickory.
Report Abuse
|
|
|
|
|
|
