A thrilling winner of the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) when last seen April 30 at Churchill Downs, Blind Luck will be heavily favored against four opponents in the $150,000 Hollywood Oaks (gr. II) June 6 at Hollywood Park.
Owned by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Peter Abruzzo, John Carver, and Mark DeDomenico, the 3-year-old Pollard's Vision filly will be trying to join a very exclusive club with a win.
If Blind Luck, who has won seven of 10 starts and earned $1,398,712, is successful, she will become only the second filly to win both the Kentucky Oaks and Hollywood Oaks. Fran’s Valentine completed the double in 1985.
A winner of three of four races in 2010, including her nose decision over Evening Jewel in Kentucky—she also won the Las Virgenes (gr. I) at Santa Anita and the Fantasy (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park—Blind Luck will be making her second start at Hollywood Park.
In her final outing as a 2-year-old, Blind Luck turned in what most would consider her most impressive performance. She won the Hollywood Starlet (gr. I) by seven lengths Dec. 22. Sharp Cat is the lone filly to win both the Starlet and Hollywood Oaks, completing the sweep with a three-length Oaks victory in 1997.
Rafael Bejarano, who won the 2008 Oaks with Lethal Heat, will be in his usual spot aboard Blind Luck. She will carry top weight of 123 pounds in the race at 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track.
Trainer John Sadler, who like Hollendorfer, is seeking his first Hollywood Oaks win, will be represented by C R K Stable’s Switch.
A daughter of Quiet American out of the Nicholas mare Antoniette, Switch is stretching out after finishing second behind Tanda in the Railbird Stakes May 9. Her only victory in five starts was at 6 1/2 furlongs in her career debut at Hollywood Park last Dec. 13.
In her two previous races around two turns, Switch finished fourth in the Bonnie Miss (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park March 20, five weeks after she was third, a half-length behind Blind Luck in the Las Virgenes. Switch will be ridden by Joel Rosario.
Camille C, who won the Melair Stakes, a race restricted to California breds at the Oaks distance, will be looking for her fourth victory in 14 tries.
Owned by Carlos Polanco and trained by Marcelo Polanco, Camille C, a daughter of Roman Dancer, has never won against open company. With earnings of $269,551, Camille C, who was purchased for $4,200 as a 2-year-old, will be trying for her third win in her fifth race on the Hollywood main track.
Vision In Gold, a troubled fifth in the Railbird, is one-for-one routing, having defeated maidens at one mile March 11 at Santa Anita. Trained by Ron Ellis for owners Mace and Samantha Siegel’s Jay Em Ess Stable, the Medaglia d'Oro filly has one win in three races. Tyler Baze, who won a year ago with Carlsbad, has the mount.
Aside from Blind Luck, nobody in the field has won more than Antares World. The Decarchy filly has captured five of nine.
Trained by Steve Specht for owner-breeders Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams, Antares World will be making only her second start in Southern California. She finished eighth of 10 in the Providencia (gr. IIT) on the turf at Santa Anita April 3. An earner of $170,718, including wins in the California Oaks and Golden Poppy at Golden Gate, she will be ridden for the first time by Victor Espinoza.
$150,000 Hollywood Oaks (gr. II, Race 8, 4:35 p.m.), 3YO Fillies, 1 1/16 Miles (Cushion Track)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Switch (KY), J Rosario, 113, J W Sadler
2. Camille C (CA), J Talamo, 119, M Polanco
3. Blind Luck (KY), R Bejarano, 123, J H,ollendorfer
4. Antares World (CA) V Espinoza, 117 S Specht
5. Vision in Gold (KY), T Baze, 113, R W Ellis
