Class drop may help Blind Date in Jameela

Blind Date will try to return to her winning ways of last year when she runs as part of a full field of 11 older fillies and mares in the $50,000 Jameela at Laurel Park on Saturday.

Trained by Hamilton Smith, Blind Date won 4 of 7 races in 2009 and earned $207,000. Although winless this year, her last two attempts have come against Grade 3 company. On May 15 she ran evenly to finish seventh in the Grade 3 Gallorette Handicap at Pimlico going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. In her most recent out June 19, Blind Date was sixth, beaten four lengths, in the Grade 3 All Along at Colonial, a 1 1/8-mile turf event.

The Jameela is scheduled to be run at six furlongs over the Laurel turf course. There is plenty of early speed in the Jameela, and the return to a shorter distance against weaker company should benefit her.

Blind Date signaled her readiness for the Jameela on Aug. 5, when she posted a bullet work over the Laurel main track. Luis Garcia will ride for the first time.

Smith has another entry in the race, Sales Tax, who will be coupled in the wagering with Blind Date.