Blind Luck (USA)
April 20, 2007 – April 22, 2024
Pollard’s Vision (USA) x Lucky One (USA), by Best of Luck (USA)
Family 11-f
April 20, 2007 – April 22, 2024
Pollard’s Vision (USA) x Lucky One (USA), by Best of Luck (USA)
Family 11-f
At or near the top of her division every year she raced, the consistent Blind Luck was perhaps best known for her series of duels with 2011 American Horse of the Year Havre de Grace. Although Havre de Grace ended her career with the more prestigious title attached to her name, Blind Luck outfinished her in four of their six meetings at 3 and 4. Unfortunately, Blind Luck’s produce record has been more in line with her rather plebeian background than with her own stellar ability.
Race record
22 starts, 12 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, US$3,279,520
2009:
2010:
2011:
Honors
Assessments
Co-highweighted at 123 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 2009 with champion She Be Wild.
Rated at 117 pounds for her performance in the Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes on the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2010, 8 pounds below top-rated mares Goldikova and Zenyatta but best among 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
Rated at 119 pounds for her performance in the Delaware Handicap on the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2011, 13 pounds below top-rated mare Black Caviar (an undefeated multiple champion in Australia) and 1 pound below American Horse of the Year Havre de Grace, the top-rated filly or mare on dirt.
As an individual
Blind Luck was long and lanky as a youngster and matured into a leggy, rangy chestnut mare. She tended to come from far off the pace in her races and often won by small margins, nipping her rivals by a neck or a nose at the wire. She was thoroughly game and tenacious in a drive and was capable of closing even into a slow pace. She was at her best from 9 to 10 furlongs. She was rather highly strung with a tough, dominant disposition which she has had from her baby days onward.
As a producer
As of September 23, 2024, Blind Luck has produced six named foals of racing age. All six have started and four have won, headed by the Group 2-placed Curlin gelding Kafoo.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Blind Luck was bred by Fairlawn Farm (Bill and Terry Baker), which sold her for US$11,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale of 2008. She was initially owned by Juvenal Diaz and trained by James Hatchett. Following her maiden victory, she was purchased privately by Mark Dedomenico, John Carver, and Jerry Hollendorfer; the last-named man took over her training. Peter Abruzzo later bought in on the filly. Dedomenico, who had owned 50 percent of Blind Luck, bought out his partners for US$2.5 million at the 2011 Keeneland November mixed sale. Blind Luck was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks score by Rafael Bejarano. She was sold privately and exported to Japan in 2019. She died of complications of foaling on April 22, 2024.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2004 Illinois Derby (USA-G2) winner Pollard’s Vision (by Carson City), Blind Luck is inbred 4x5 to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native. She is out of the winner Lucky One, a winning half sister to 2002 Swale Stakes (USA-G3) winner Ethan Man (by Glitterman) and to Twilight Uproar (by Roar), dam of Brazilian Group 3 winner Sweet Roar (by Durban Thunder).
Lucky One is by 2002 Peter Pan Stakes (USA-G2) winner Best of Luck (by Broad Brush) out of Twilight Spectre (by multiple Grade 2 winner Imp Society). A half sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Chas. Conerly (by Big Burn). Twilight Spectre is, in turn, out of the winner Shall Return (by the winning Nasrullah horse Fair Ruler), whose stakes-placed half sister Girl Returns (by El Gallo) produced 1979 Monmouth Oaks (USA-G1) winner Burn’s Return (by Big Burn). Also a half sister to Sound of the El (by Forgotten Dreams), dam of restricted stakes winner Crafty El (by Crafty Prospector), Shall Return is out of the Irish import Going Home II (by 1956 English and Irish champion 3-year-old male Talgo II).
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the 2011 Keeneland November mixed sale. Used by permission.
Last updated: September 23, 2024
Race record
22 starts, 12 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, US$3,279,520
2009:
- Won Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FA, Santa Anita)
- Won Hollywood Starlet Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FA, Hollywood)
- 2nd Darley Debutante Stakes (USA-G1, 7FA, Del Mar)
- 3rd Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1, 8.5FA, Santa Anita)
2010:
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Betfair TVG Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Las Virgenes Stakes (USA-G1, 8FA, Santa Anita)
- Won Fantasy Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Oaklawn Park)
- Won Delaware Oaks (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Delaware Park)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Philadelphia Park)
- 2nd Hollywood Oaks (USA-G2, 8.5FA, Hollywood)
- 3rd Santa Anita Oaks (USA-G1, 8.5FA, Santa Anita)
2011:
- Won Vanity Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won Delaware Handicap (USA-G2, 10FD, Delaware Park)
- Won La Troienne Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd La Canada Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd El Encino Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Azeri Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Oaklawn Park)
Honors
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (2010)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American champion 2-year-old filly (2009)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American champion older female (2011)
Assessments
Co-highweighted at 123 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 2009 with champion She Be Wild.
Rated at 117 pounds for her performance in the Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes on the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2010, 8 pounds below top-rated mares Goldikova and Zenyatta but best among 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
Rated at 119 pounds for her performance in the Delaware Handicap on the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2011, 13 pounds below top-rated mare Black Caviar (an undefeated multiple champion in Australia) and 1 pound below American Horse of the Year Havre de Grace, the top-rated filly or mare on dirt.
As an individual
Blind Luck was long and lanky as a youngster and matured into a leggy, rangy chestnut mare. She tended to come from far off the pace in her races and often won by small margins, nipping her rivals by a neck or a nose at the wire. She was thoroughly game and tenacious in a drive and was capable of closing even into a slow pace. She was at her best from 9 to 10 furlongs. She was rather highly strung with a tough, dominant disposition which she has had from her baby days onward.
As a producer
As of September 23, 2024, Blind Luck has produced six named foals of racing age. All six have started and four have won, headed by the Group 2-placed Curlin gelding Kafoo.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Blind Luck was bred by Fairlawn Farm (Bill and Terry Baker), which sold her for US$11,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale of 2008. She was initially owned by Juvenal Diaz and trained by James Hatchett. Following her maiden victory, she was purchased privately by Mark Dedomenico, John Carver, and Jerry Hollendorfer; the last-named man took over her training. Peter Abruzzo later bought in on the filly. Dedomenico, who had owned 50 percent of Blind Luck, bought out his partners for US$2.5 million at the 2011 Keeneland November mixed sale. Blind Luck was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks score by Rafael Bejarano. She was sold privately and exported to Japan in 2019. She died of complications of foaling on April 22, 2024.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2004 Illinois Derby (USA-G2) winner Pollard’s Vision (by Carson City), Blind Luck is inbred 4x5 to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native. She is out of the winner Lucky One, a winning half sister to 2002 Swale Stakes (USA-G3) winner Ethan Man (by Glitterman) and to Twilight Uproar (by Roar), dam of Brazilian Group 3 winner Sweet Roar (by Durban Thunder).
Lucky One is by 2002 Peter Pan Stakes (USA-G2) winner Best of Luck (by Broad Brush) out of Twilight Spectre (by multiple Grade 2 winner Imp Society). A half sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Chas. Conerly (by Big Burn). Twilight Spectre is, in turn, out of the winner Shall Return (by the winning Nasrullah horse Fair Ruler), whose stakes-placed half sister Girl Returns (by El Gallo) produced 1979 Monmouth Oaks (USA-G1) winner Burn’s Return (by Big Burn). Also a half sister to Sound of the El (by Forgotten Dreams), dam of restricted stakes winner Crafty El (by Crafty Prospector), Shall Return is out of the Irish import Going Home II (by 1956 English and Irish champion 3-year-old male Talgo II).
Books and media
- The New York Racing Association’s footage of Blind Luck’s win in the 2010 Alabama Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjPpwVdu2l4.
- Blind Luck was featured in a video for The Blood-Horse’s “Stars of the Oaks” series at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm on April 22, 2014 (https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/videos/100106/stars-of-the-oaks-blind-luck).
Fun facts
- The cleverly-named Blind Luck (who was named by a friend of initial owner Juvenal Diaz) was much the best runner sired by Pollard’s Vision, a one-eyed horse whose name alludes to jockey John “Red” Pollard. Blinded in one eye after an accident while galloping a horse, Pollard nonetheless gained fame as the rider of Seabiscuit, whose victory in the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap represented a major comeback for both horse and jockey.
- Blind Luck was the filly no one wanted early in her career. After being sold for US$11,000 as a yearling, Blind Luck was offered as a 2-year-old in training at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales April sale but failed to meet her reserve on a US$10,000 bid. Owner Juvenal Diaz then tried to sell her privately but found no takers and entered her in a US$40,000 maiden claimer over 4½ furlongs at Calder. No one put in a claim for the filly, but Blind Luck won by 13¼ lengths. Even then, Diaz had to shop her around before she was sold privately to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and partners for “a lot more than $40,000” according to Hollendorfer.
- Bill and Terry Baker had initially selected Five Star Day (by Carson City) as the first mate for Blind Luck’s dam Lucky One, an arthritic mare they had claimed for US$15,000 after winning a shake with several other would-be owners who had submitted claiming slips on the mare in the same race. (They ran her back for US$30,000 with no takers, and Lucky One ended her career after one more start in allowance company.) After the mare failed to conceive on three covers, they switched her to Pollard’s Vision, another son of Carson City. Because Lucky One stood 17.1 hands, over a hand taller than Pollard’s Vision, a hole had to be dug in the breeding shed floor for the mare to stand in in order for the horse to make the cover. This time, Lucky One conceived on a single cover. Blind Luck was the result.
- As a foal, Blind Luck’s nickname was “Clover.”
- One factor that may have played into Blind Luck’s failure to sell well as a youngster was a scar on one leg, the legacy of running through a fence after being chased by a Great Pyrenees (a large dog of a breed developed as guardians for livestock). The dog was promptly replaced by the Bakers.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the 2011 Keeneland November mixed sale. Used by permission.
Last updated: September 23, 2024