Last year, Blind Luck and Havre de Grace staged a marvelous rivalry over the course of several months. Four consecutive times, the chestnut Kentucky Oaks winner met the bay upstart in major stakes races. It was a true horse racing rivalry, with championship honors at stake.
They met for the first time in the Delaware Oaks (gr. II) at Delaware Park. Blind Luck was the 1-5 favorite in the mile and a sixteenth event. Havre de Grace? She was the third choice at 6.60-1. She did have nearly as impressive a resume as her more heralded rival did. She had broken her maiden second time out, then won an allowance race. A neck defeat to the fine filly No Such Word in the Go For Wand Stakes at Delaware Park set her up for the Delaware Oaks.
It was a thrilling finish. Blind Luck trailed for the first half-mile. Havre de Grace tracked the leader. In the homestretch it came down to the big two. Havre de Grace took the lead in deep stretch and appeared to have the race won. But Blind Luck closed like a rocket in the final strides to win by a nose.
Score: Blind Luck, 1; Havre de Grace, 0
The next meeting came in the historic Alabama Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga. At ten furlongs in distance, it appeared to be custom made for Blind Luck. Havre de Grace ended up being sent off at higher odds than in the Delaware Oaks, for the Alabama was being billed as a two horse race between Blind Luck and Mother Goose (gr. I) winner Devil May Care.
Devil May Care didn't fire and ran fourth of sixth. Instead, it came down once again to Blind Luck and Havre de Grace. The two fillies engaged in a thrilling homestretch duel, with Blind Luck eking out a neck victory.
Score: Blind Luck, 2; Havre de Grace, 0
The two brilliant fillies met for the third time in the mile and a sixteenth Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes (gr. II) at Philadelpha Park. This times the odds reflected the closeness in talent of the two fillies -- Blind Luck was 0.70-1 and Havre de Grace 1.20-1. It was a very close race indeed.
As usual, Blind Luck dropped back to last. Havre de Grace was right behind the leaders in the early going. The pace was quick.
On the far turn, Havre de Grace made her bid for the lead. She quickly opened up several lengths on the field. Blind Luck was charging hard. But Havre de Grace led by 3 1/2 lengths passing the eighth pole. Blind Luck gobbled up the ground with tremendous strides. But Havre de Grace held on to win by a neck in a sharp 1:40.93.
Score: Blind Luck, 2; Havre de Grace, 1
Their final meeting came on racing's biggest stage, the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic. Blind Luck was the 3-2 favorite, with Havre de Grace the third choice at 3.80-1. Both fillies dropped well off of the early pace, and both made strong bids turning for home. But Unrivaled Belle, the fourth choice, got the jump on both of them. The older filly led by two lengths passing the eighth pole, while Havre de Grace and Blind Luck were just heads apart in second and third. Neither were able to catch Unrivaled Belle, who won by 1 3/4 lengths. Blind Luck finished second, a length clear of her courageous rival.
Final score: Blind Luck, 3; Havre de Grace, 1
At the conclusion of this incredible rivalry, it was apparant thet both fillies were magnificent, but that Blind Luck was the best, if only narrowly.
However, the rivalry isn't done yet. In the Azeri Stakes (gr. III) this afternoon at Oaklawn Park, the two brave fillies will meet for the fifth time. They are the two morning line favorites, with Blind Luck 8-5 and Havre de Grace 9-5.
Will they run 1-2 again? Will they be seperated by less than a length once more at the finish? It's impossible to say for sure. But it looks as though one of racing's finest rivalries will continue into 2011.
-Keelerman
No comments:
Post a Comment