In a finish reminiscent of the Las Virgenes S. (G1), Blind Luck rallied down the center of the track and just caught Evening Jewel by a nose on the wire of Friday's $500,000 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs for Illinois standardbred owners John Carver and Peter Abruzzo
. Mark Dedomenico LLC and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer also share ownership of the winning lass.
Carver has owned over 240 standardbreds including this year’s Four Leaf Clover winner Lisagain, 2009 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final winner and North America Cup eligible Code Word, 2009 Matron Stake winner Swan For All, Mr Cantab, a runner-up in a division of the 2009 Stanley Dancer Memorial, and Someheartsomewhere, a yearling full sister to harness racing great Somebeachsomewhere.
Blink Luck and Evening Jewel, who first met up in the Las Virgenes S. on February 13 at Santa Anita, had to go an extra eighth of a mile in this affair but the margin of victory didn't change as Blind Luck wore down her rival once again to capture her fourth Grade 1 score.
Tidal Pool and jockey Calvin Borel went to the front and slowed the pace down through splits of :23.4, :48 and 1:12.2 while closely tracked by Ailalea to the outside. Meanwhile, jockey Rafael Bejarano allowed Blind Luck to settle in her normal rear-running position before urging her on as the field neared the turn. Keeping as close to the inside as she could, Blind Luck circled her 13 rivals and entered the stretch chasing Evening Jewel as that one overtook Tidal Pool.
In front of a record crowd of 116,046, Blind Luck dug in and gradually closed ground on Evening Jewel, just getting her nose in front on the line. The chestnut lass finished up the 1 1/8-mile test in 1:50.3 to move her record to 10-7-1-2.
Blind Luck paid $4.60, $3.60 and $2.80 as the 6-5 favourite and keyed the $58.40 exacta and $389.80 trifecta. Evening Jewel, who captured the Ashland S. (G1) by a diminishing neck prior to this one, was worth $9.40 and $7.20. Tidal Pool was a game third in the Oaks, returning $5, and was followed by Beautician, who completed the $4,100.40 superfecta (5-11-8-6).
Bred by Fairlawn Farm in Kentucky, Blind Luck passed through the sales ring twice, bringing $11,000 as a Fasig-Tipton July yearling and RNAing for $10,000 at the OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training in April. The chestnut lass is the first registered foal out of the winning Lucky One (Best Of Luck), who has since produced an unnamed juvenile colt by Orientate and 2010 filly by Successful Appeal.
Lucky One is a half-sister to 2002 Swale S. (G3) hero Ethan Man (Glitterman), while her dam, Twilight Spectre (Imp Society), is herself a half-sibling to multiple Grade 2 victor Chas Conerly (Big Burn) and multiple Grade 3-placed Gainzer (Turkoman). Also of note in the family is Burns Return (Big Burn), queen of the 1979 Monmouth Oaks (G1).
(With files from Kentucky Derby)