Blind Luck, whose inspiring rags-to-riches story has garnered her a sizable fan base, is looking to add a eighth graded stakes victory to her resume in the Oct. 2 Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes (gr. II) at Parx Racing at Philadelphia Park. The daughter of Pollard's Vision , who was bought for just $11,000 as a yearling, will face four foes in the 1 1/16-mile Cotillion for sophomore fillies, which is slated for 4:58 p.m. (EDT).
Blind Luck is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, who bought her privately off the track as a 2-year-old and races her in partnership with Mark Dedomenico, John Carver, and Peter Abruzzo. Never finishing off the board, Blind Luck owns a record of 9-2-2 from 13 starts, for earnings of $1,878,712.
The chestnut filly is by far the most accomplished contender in the Cotillion field, with grade I victories in this year’s Las Virgenes, Oak Leaf, Kentucky Oaks, and Aug. 21 BetFair TVG Alabama last out. Blind Luck scored additional grade II wins in this year’s Fantasy and Delaware Oaks, and as a 2-year-old captured the Hollywood Starlet and Oak Leaf Stakes (both gr. I).
Bred in Kentucky by Fairlawn Farm, she is out of the Best of Luck mare Lucky One. Carrying top weight of 124 pounds, Blind Luck will break from the rail under jockey Joel Rosario.
While Awesome Maria’s resume doesn’t compare to Blind Luck’s, the daughter of Maria's Mon has proven to be versatile in her five career starts, winning stakes on both dirt and turf. Awesome Maria captured the 2009 Matron Stakes (gr. II) and was second to Devil May Care in that year’s Frizette. In her only start this year, the gray or roan filly won the Riskaverse Stakes on turf at Saratoga Sept. 2.
Kentucky homebred Awesome Maria, who is trained by Todd Pletcher for E. Paul Robsham Stables, will stretch out to 1 1/16 miles for the first time in the Cotillion. Switching back to the dirt for the race, Awesome Maria is looking to step up her game and notch her first grade I victory. She will break from post 2 under Eibar Coa.
Following a series of heartbreaking near misses in stakes company the Cotillion may just be Havre de Grace’s time to shine. The filly finished second by a neck, a nose, and a neck respectively in this year’s Go For Wand, Delaware Oaks, and Alabama. The Cotillion would be the perfect opportunity for Havre de Grace to seek revenge on Blind Luck, who bested her in the latter two races.
Trained by Anthony Dutrow for Fox Hill Farms, Havre de Grace has earned $240,175 from her six career starts. She will break from the outside post under regular jockey Jeremy Rose.
Bonnie Blue Flag, a stakes-winning, grade I-placed Mineshaft filly, and winner Absinthe Minded (by Quiet American) round out the Cotillion field.
Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes (gr. II, Race 10, 4:58 p.m.), $750,000, Parx Racing at Philadelphia Park, Oct. 2, 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles
Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Blind Luck, J Rosario, 124, J Hollendorfer
2. Awesome Maria, E Coa, 114, T Pletcher
3. Absinthe Minded, S Elliott, 114, D W Lukas
4. Bonne Blue Flag, K Carmouche, 114, B Baffert
5. Havre de Grace, J Rose, 114, A W Dutrow
