Fatherhood may bring Blacker extra racing luck

ARCADIA, Calif. – Forgive Dan Blacker if he’s a bit bleary-eyed this weekend at Santa Anita.

On Wednesday, his wife, Christina, a commentator on TVG, had the couple’s third daughter, Eliza, who is expected home this weekend.

Sunday, Blacker starts Tonahutu in an optional claimer at a mile on turf. There are positive signs Tonahutu can win her second start in this country, after a tough nose loss at Del Mar in an optional claimer Sept. 2.

“It’s weird,” Blacker said Friday morning. “I won a race the day my first daughter was born and a race the day after my second daughter was born.”

Tonahutu will be ridden by Gary Stevens in Sunday’s fourth race. On Sept. 2, Tonahutu closed with a four-wide rally to just miss. The 3-year-old filly has left Blacker optimistic after he watched her train in recent weeks.

“She’s training without any problems and really impressed me in the morning,” he said. “I thought it was good to go back in. There is a little more pace in this and hopefully she can get a clean trip.

“She’s certainly showing a lot of potential.”