Blind Luck works for 4-year-old debut in El Encino

ARCADIA, Calif. – Blind Luck, a leading contender for the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding 3-year-old filly of 2010, worked a half-mile in 48 seconds Wednesday, preparing for her 2011 debut in Sunday’s $150,000 El Encino Stakes for 4-year-old fillies.

Dan Ward, assistant to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, timed Blind Luck in 23.40 seconds through the final quarter-mile of her workout. The El Encino will be Blind Luck’s first start since a second in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5. Blind Luck has won 9 of 15 starts and $2,388,712.

Sutherland hires Beach as agent

Chantal Sutherland, who resumed riding here last weekend, has hired Brian Beach as her agent, Sutherland and Beach said Wednesday.

Sutherland, 34, had been represented by Tommy Ball, who will continue book mounts on behalf of Corey Nakatani. Sutherland rode at Woodbine last year, where she finished third in the jockey’s standings. At the 2009-10 Santa Anita meeting, Sutherland won 18 races from 177 mounts.

Beach’s arrangement with Sutherland was scheduled to begin Thursday.