Garrett Gomez will be at Delaware Park July 16 to ride Blind Luck for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer in the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (gr. II) in a much anticipated clash with division rival Havre de Grace.
Hollendorfer confirmed Blind Luck as a starter for the Delaware Handicap July 10 after seeing the weight assignment for the 1 1/4-mile dirt test. Blind Luck was assigned 122 pounds, with Havre de Grace to carry 124.
Gomez has ridden last year's champion 3-year-old filly to victories in her two most recent starts. Hollendorfer owns the filly in partnership with Mark Dedomenico, John Carver, and Peter Abruzzo.
Havre de Grace and Blind Luck have clashed five times. Blind Luck won the Delaware Oaks (gr. II) and Alabama Stakes (gr. I) over her rival last year while Havre de Grace defeated Blind Luck in last year's Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes (gr. II) and this spring's Azeri Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park. In last year's Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic, Blind Luck finished second behind Unrivaled Belle, with Havre de Grace third.
Blind Luck is coming off back-to-back wins in the La Troienne Stakes (gr. II) May 6 at Churchill Downs and the Vanity Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park June 17. Fox Hill Farm's Havre de Grace is three-for-three in 2011 for trainer Larry Jones, including a victory in Oaklawn's Apple Blossom Stakes (gr. I).
Defending Delaware Handicap winner Life At Ten may also be part of the field after she worked five furlongs in 1:00.66 at Belmont Park July 10 for trainer Todd Pletcher. Life At Ten was assigned 115 pounds.
