Blind Luck, Havre de Grace will renew rivalry in Delaware Handicap
By David Grening
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer on Sunday confirmed Blind Luck as a starter for Saturday’s $750,000 Delaware Handicap, renewing that filly’s rivalry with Havre de Grace. The two powerhouse fillies have met five previous times with Blind Luck winning the Delaware Oaks and the Alabama last year and Havre de Grace winning last year’s Fitz Dixon Cotillion and this year’s Azeri at Oaklawn Park. In last year’s Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, Blind Luck finished second and Havre de Grace was third, behind Unrivaled Belle.
Hollendorfer wanted to see the weight assignments before committing Blind Luck to the Del Cap. Blind Luck was assigned 122 pounds, two less than Havre de Grace, who got 124 from racing secretary Pat Pope. “I thought she should get some weight from Havre de Grace,’’ Hollendorfer said. “I wasn’t going to run if they put me at equal weights or gave me a pound. They gave us two pounds. We’re coming into her backyard.’’
Meanwhile, trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday he is “leaning toward’’ running defending Delaware Handicap winner Life At Ten (115#) against those two on Saturday. Pletcher said he was pleased with Life At Ten’s five-furlong workout in 1:00.66 Sunday morning over the Belmont Park main track. Life At Ten worked in company with Belmont Stakes runner-up Stay Thirsty. “Obviously, it’s a very tough race, but she gets a little bit of a weight concession over a surface she’s won on before,’’ Pletcher said.