Saratoga: Blind Luck, Havre de Grace both headed to New York

Blind Luck and Havre de Grace are likely headed to Saratoga for their next starts, but the two dynamic fillies might not end up in the same race, meaning round 7 in this terrific rivalry may have to wait for the fall.

Havre de Grace, beaten a nose by Blind Luck in Saturday’s $750,000 Delaware Handicap, could make her next start against males in the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 3, owner Rick Porter said Monday. The Woodward is run at 1 1/8 miles.

Meanwhile, Blind Luck is likely to make her next start Grade 1, $300,000 Personal Ensign at Saratoga on Aug. 28, trainer and part-owner Jerry Hollendorfer said. The Personal Ensign is run at 1 1/4 miles.

While Porter hasn’t ruled out running Havre de Grace in the Personal Ensign, he said “I don’t think it makes sense money-wise.”

Porter said he and trainer Larry Jones talked Sunday morning about running Havre de Grace against males, and Porter indicated the Woodward made the most sense from a money and timing standpoint. In 2009, Rachel Alexandra became the first female to win the Woodward, which was part of an undefeated campaign and one that led to her being named Horse of the Year.

“Maybe Blind Luck would like to join us in the Woodward,” Porter said. “She’s invited if we run.”

Though Hollendorfer has run fillies against males before – Pike Place Dancer won the California Derby before winning the Kentucky Oaks – he said he was not inclined to do that with Blind Luck, whom he said he would like to run next year as a 5-year-old.

Hollendorfer said he is considering the Personal Ensign for Blind Luck 'because we think it’s an important race.” Blind Luck was scheduled to ship back to Southern California on Tuesday.

Unlike the Delaware Handicap, the Personal Ensign is run under allowance conditions, and it is likely both fillies would carry the same weight.

Weight was a key topic both before and after the Delaware Handicap. Hollendorfer committed to run Blind Luck in that race only after his filly was assigned 122 pounds, two fewer than Havre de Grace.

Porter said both he and trainer Larry Jones were upset that Havre de Grace, winner of a single Grade 1 race, had to concede weight to a six-time Grade 1 winner in Blind Luck.

“I didn’t think in a million years we’d be giving Blind Luck weight,” Porter said. ``I’m sure we’ll meet again if we both stay healthy.”