The $300,000 Personal Ensign (gr. I) Aug. 28 at Saratoga remains a realistic possibility for rivals Blind Luck and Havre de Grace to meet again.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who will be inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame Aug. 12, said the 1 1/4-mile Personal Ensign remains very much on the radar for Blind Luck, who last year defeated Havre de Grace by a neck in Saratoga’s Alabama (gr. I). The fillies have met twice this year, with each of them winning once.
“The Personal Ensign was always on the table, but I am also looking real hard at the Pacific Classic (gr. I) on the same day (at Del Mar),” said Hollendorfer. “We haven’t made a decision, and there’s no timetable because we’re still a ways out from the 28th. It’s easy to plan your workout schedule when the races are on the same day.”
Blind Luck, 12-7-2 from 21 starts, returned from the Delaware Handicap (gr. II) to breeze five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 at Del Mar Aug. 5.
Meanwhile, owner Rick Porter said he and trainer Larry Jones are leaning toward the Personal Ensign rather than the Sept. 3 Woodward (gr. I) against males, as the next start for Havre de Grace.
“Right now, we are leaning heavily toward the Personal Ensign,” said Porter. “There are a couple of things that could change that, one being if there were a lot of defections by Whitney horses from the Woodward. But I would say we are 85% to run in the Personal Ensign.”
On Aug. 8, Havre de Grace worked five furlongs in 1:00 at Delaware Park.
Overall, the two have meet six times, with Blind Luck also victorious in the 2010 Delaware Oaks (gr. II) and the July 16 Delaware Handicap, and Havre de Grace triumphant in the 2010 Fitz Dixon Cotillion (gr. II) at Parx Racing and the Azeri (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park March 19.
In their other meeting, Blind Luck and Havre de Grace finished second and third, respectively, behind Unrivaled Belle in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (gr. I).