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Two-time champion Indian Blessing has been retired from racing and booked to recently retired Zensational . The 4-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie will reside at the place of her birth, John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms near Lexington, where grade I winner Zensational will stand in 2010.
“The reason we are breeding Indian Blessing to Zensational is to come up with the perfect Thoroughbred,” said Bob Baffert, who trained both Indian Blessing and Zensational. “They were both unbelievable on the racetrack with perfect conformation and exceptional brilliance. We are all after the super horse, and I was blessed to train both of them.”
Racing as a homebred for Hal Earnhardt III and his wife, Patti, Indian Blessing finished first or second in a remarkable 15 of 16 races and earned $2,995,420. Undefeated at 2, she was voted divisional champion after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Monmouth Park and the Frizette Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park.
At 3, Indian Blessing finished first or second in all nine starts and was voted champion female sprinter. She won five sprint stakes: the Test (gr. I), La Brea (gr. I), and Prioress (gr. I) Stakes; the Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) in track-record time at Santa Anita; and the Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II). At 1 1/16 miles, she captured the Silverbulletday Stakes (gr. III) and finished second to Proud Spell in the Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II). She also was runner-up in the mile Acorn Stakes (gr. I) and in the Sentient Flight Group Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
Indian Blessing raced four times as a 4-year-old. She won her second Gallant Bloom and was runner-up in the Ballerina and in the Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Gulf News (UAE-I) against males. Her lone non one-two finish came while fourth in the Desert Stormer Handicap at Hollywood Park.
Indian Blessing is out of the stakes-winning Flying Chevron mare Shameful, a half-sister to stakes winner Little Matth Man.
Indian Charlie, who was bred by Hal Earnhardt, was a grade I winner for Earnhardt and John R. Gaines.
