Blind Luck takes Fantasy, has Oaks in her sights

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Friday was a good day at the office for Blind Luck. She became a millionaire and established herself as the probable favorite for the Kentucky Oaks with a powerful, last-to-first win in the at Oaklawn.

The race was the second career dirt start for Blind Luck, a multiple Grade 1 winner in Southern California who had won her career debut on dirt at Calder in June 2009. Friday, Blind Luck rolled out her patented closing kick through the lane of the 1 1/16-mile Fantasy, winning by 2 1/2 lengths over Tidal Pool.

"I'm happy she showed that turn of foot on dirt," said Jerry Hollendorfer, who trains Blind Luck.

Hollendorfer said Blind Luck will now be pointed toward what has been her longtime goal, the Kentucky Oaks.

The Fantasy opened up the Racing Festival of the South, when at least one stakes a day is run over the final week of the meet. Last year, the race served as Rachel Alexandra's final prep for the Kentucky Oaks, which she won by 20 lengths. This year's Kentucky Oaks will be run at Churchill Downs on April 30.

Blind Luck ($3) broke with the field and let them go, sitting about five lengths behind Tidal Pool, who was up by 1 1/2 lengths through an opening quarter in 24.19 seconds. Blind Luck continued to trail through Tidal Pool's pace of 47.88 seconds for the opening half-mile and 1:11.61 for six furlongs before beginning to pick up steam past the three-eighths pole. Blind Luck then turned on the jets in the lane, to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:42.56.

"It was a little slower early than I thought it would be, then we really picked it up the last part of it and I felt real confident coming for home," said winning rider Rafael Bejarano.

Hollendorfer said Blind Luck would return to California before making shipping plans for Kentucky. She earned $180,000 for her win in the Fantasy, pushing her earnings to $1,069,050. She has now won 6 of 9 starts. Blind Luck, a daughter of Pollard's Vision, races for the partnership of Hollendorfer, Mark DeDomenico, John Carver, and Peter Abruzzo.

No Such Word finished third in the Fantasy, 6 1/2 lengths behind Tidal Pool. It was another 12 lengths back in fourth to All Due Respect in the four-horse field. Hollendorfer won the Fantasy back in 1991 with eventual Kentucky Oaks winner Lite Light, who raced for Oaktown Stable.