(edited press release)
After pondering the possibility of canceling her trip, trainer Bob Baffert decided March 6 to send champion filly Indian Blessing to take on males in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I).
Baffert said the 4-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie basically made the decision for him.
“If she could talk, she’d say, ‘Take me to Dubai—I’m ready. Put me in, coach,’ ” Baffert said. “I’m looking at her right now. She’s doing fantastic. She’s coming out of her skin.”
Indian Blessing zipped through five furlongs at Santa Anita Park March 5 in :59, third fastest of 42 workouts at the distance.
“She worked great. She came out of it really well, and there’s really nothing to run her in here in the U.S. for a while,” Baffert said.
That sharp drill followed two bullet works— five furlongs in :59.20 Feb. 21 and six furlongs in 1:11.80 Feb. 27.
“What I like about her is not only is she brilliant, she ships well and she’s got a great mind. She shows up every time she runs, and that’s the kind of horse you want to take to Dubai,” Baffert added.
Bred in Kentucky by owners Hal and Patti Earnhardt, Indian Blessing has never finished worse than second in 12 career starts, winning nine of those races including five grade I events.
Baffert said he has honed her with the Dubai Golden Shaheen always the primary target. Running her against males does not worry him because, he said, “I came from the Quarter Horse world, where the boys always ran with the girls.”