Will Blind Luck go down as underrated?

Very recently I've been thinking about the Pollard's Vision filly Blind Luck. Sure her career didn't end on a high note before entering the Keeneland ring and being bought by one of the owners who had owned her for all, but one of her races. However, she goes down as one of the best fillies to run since 2000. That is saying alot considering all of the great fillies (Azeri, Ashado, Rags to Riches, Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta and Havre de Grace) that have run in the same timeframe. While she will one day joint at least 4 of those horses in the Hall of Fame (Rach and Z are no doubt first ballot inductees, Ashado is on the final ballot this year for the first time, Rags is eligible in a few years, Azeri is already in and Grace is still running), I'm wondering if she'll be considered underrated compared to them.

Here is a look at her career. This was a filly who began her career in a $40,000 claimer at Calder. Then she was privately sold and send cross country to California. She then wins a Starter Allowance where she doesn't get a great start, makes her stakes debut (Darley Debutante) in her next start where she finishes 2nd behind Mi Sueno whose career was shortened do to an injury. In the Oak Leaf, she gets her first G1 win and then finishes a respective third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies before ending her season with a win in the Hollywood Starlet. She was named a finalist for 2yo filly losing to BC Juvy Fillies winner She Be Wild.

However, that was just be beginning of her remarkable career. As a 3yo, she won the Las Virgenes before having an shocking loss to Switch in the Santa Anita Oaks. That lead to a start in the Fantasy which the previous 2 years before had produced Eight Belles (runner up in the Derby) and Rachel Alexandra (who would win the Oaks and Preakness). Facing only 3 other horses, the short field was to her advantage as she could roll on by with her closing kick. However, it almost didn't happen as she was behind all the way and it looked like it would be two loses in a row. Thankfully she appeared on the outside and was able to get the win. This led to the Kentucky Oaks where she would be the heavy favorite. As they hit mid stretch, it looked like the Cal bred Evening Jewel, a G1 winner herself, was going to pull the monster upset. However, Blind Luck was able to prevail in a photo finish.



After another shocking loss to Switch in the Hollywood Oaks, another trip East was in store for her. Her trainer Jerry Hollendorfer chose the Delaware Oaks as her next start. It would be a rematch between her and No Such Word who had faced her in the Fantasy and finished third. With sloppy track, she was put at a disadvange with her running style (sloppy tracks tend to play towards front runners). She got the win, but not without a fight from an unhardled filly trained by Tony Dutrow by the name of Havre de Grace. The winning margin was a nose. The very next race, the Alabama would be a rematch between the two just as thrilling with Blind Luck once again winning. The winning margin was a little bit wider this time (1 1/2 lengths), but Havre de Grace once again gave her a fight. The daughter of the late great Saint Liam was able to turn the tables on her in the Cotillion, setting up a showdown in the BC Ladies Classic. Unfortanlly, both of the fillies where defeated by Unriveled Belle who had defeated Rachel Alexandra earlier in the year. Blind Luck had finished second with Havre de Grace in third.When it came to the awards, Blind Luck had done more then enough to win Champion 3yo Filly honors.

At the begining of her 4yo season, Blind Luck was at a bit of a crossroads. She had all of a sudden forgotten to win finishing second in two legs of the La Canada to Always a Princess (who she had defeated in the Oak Leaf) and the Azeri to her long time rival Havre de Grace who was now with the unretired Larry Jones. It took another trip to Kentucky to get back to her winning ways. Facing Unriveled Belle in the La Troienne, she was able to get off the secondtis streak and recover from a stumble at the begining of the race to win.



After finally defeating Switch in the Vanity, it set up yet another showdown with Havre de Grace. It would be the sixth time that they would meet (4 times as 3yo's and once before as a 4yo). The place? Why it would be Grace's hometrack, Delaware Park. The race would be the Delaware Handicap and this year the stakes where higher. Since their meeting in the Azeri, Grace had become a G1 winner by winning the Apple Blossom and had a very professional win in the Obeah which was the local prep. Also in the race would be the defending Champion Life at Ten, who was not the same horse after a very contraversial non scratch in the previous year's Ladies Classic. The race turned out to be possibly the greatest of the Blind Luck/Havre de Grace rivalry. The two longtime rivals dueled each other in the stretch, with Blind Luck eventually prevailing by a nose.

Blind Luck reciving her glory, after her final win in her career
the 2011 Delaware Handicap. Many considered this race the Race of the Year.

It turned out to be the final time that they would meet. Of course Havre de Grace would go onto to win the Woodward and Beldame on her way to Horse of the Year honors. While Blind Luck would finish a shocking last in what turn out to be her final career race, the Lady's Secret.

With her kick, she can be compared to Zenyatta. Of course as an Oaks winner, there is the Rachel factor. However, she does have a two things over the both of them.

*1 more G1 win then Rachel
*2 more starts then Z, 3 more then Rachel

Her final earnings leave her just a little over $100,000 less then Rachel.

Even with those stats, she will be overshadowed after running during and just after the Rachel and Z era. Which is a shame, but she will be remembered by fans for having a big heart and a great closing kick. I can't wait to see how her first foal (which will be by Bernardini) does when he/she is born next year.