BEJARANO TAKES OVER AS ECLIPSE CHAMPION BLIND LUCK ATTEMPTS TO END THREE-RACE SKID IN SUNDAY’S GRADE II LA CANADA STAKES

ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 10, 2011) – Runaway winner of the 2010 Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly, multimillionaire Blind Luck will attempt to climb out of a three-race runner-up rut on Sunday in Santa Anita’s prestigious Grade II, $150,000 La Canada Stakes for 4-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles.

Rafael Bejarano, Santa Anita’s leading rider who was aboard for Blind Luck’s triumph in last May’s Grade I Kentucky Oaks, will again be at the controls when trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer’s chestnut filly attempts to regain her winning form against four rivals including recent vanquisher Always a Princess.

Bejarano rode Always a Princess for trainer Bob Baffert when the Leroidesanimaux filly carried her speed to a 3 ½-length win over Blind Luck in Santa Anita’s Grade II El Encino Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 11. Blind Luck unleashed her usual closing kick in the El Encino, but couldn’t make a serious impact on the winner, whom she had outrun in two previous meetings.

The El Encino was Blind Luck’s first race since finishing second, 1 ¾ lengths behind Unrivaled Belle in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5. She previously had missed by a neck to Havre de Grace in the Grade II Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing at Philadelphia Park.

Purchased by the Hollendorfer group following a 13 ¼-length score in her maiden debut at Calder Racecourse in June of 2009, the daughter of Pollard’s Vision has never been farther away at the wire than in her last two starts. Her remarkable consistency has resulted in $2,418,712 in earnings from a record of 9-5-2 in 16 races.

The switch back to Bejarano from Joel Rosario after five consecutive races, according to Hollendorfer, was so that he would have a long-term commitment. Rosario is tagged to ride Switch in Santa Anita’s Grade 1, $300,000 Santa Margarita Stakes on March 13.

In commenting on the switch to Bejarano, Hollendorfer said: “He is the leading rider and probably riding as good as anybody has seen him ride. I don’t think he’s lost a photo here.”

Bejarano indeed turned in a top-notch ride aboard Always a Princess in the El Encino when putting away speed rival Champagne d’Oro while saving enough to comfortably hold off Blind Luck.

Baffert has named Martin Garcia to take over on Always a Princess. The chestnut filly, owned by Arnold Zetcher, has raced eight times while compiling a 4-1-1 record for earnings of $425,048.

Rosario will ride Harmonious, Martin, Pam and Emily Wygod’s homebred daughter of Dynaformer who will be making her first start over a dirt surface for trainer John Shirreffs.

The winner of the Hollywood Park’s Grade I American Oaks and Keeneland’s Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup last year, Harmonious and Rosario came up a nose short in Santa Anita’s Grade II Robert J. Frankel Stakes on New Year’s Day when nipped by Spring Style as the 3-10 favorite.

Harmonious has worked swiftly over Santa Anita’s dirt track. She recorded a swift six furlong drill in 1:10 4/5 on Jan. 28, after which Shirreffs expressed his pleasure with the work. Harmonious enters the La Canada with a 4-2-0 record in eight races for earnings of $532,420.

The complete field for the La Canada Stakes, with jockeys and weights in post position order: Fashion Trend, Victor Espinoza, 118; Harmonious, Joel Rosario, 123; Always a Princess, Martin Garcia, 123; Blind Luck, Rafael Bejarano, 123, and Life Well Lived, Patrick Valenzuela, 118.

The La Canada is scheduled as the eighth race on a nine-race program. First post is at 12:30 p.m.

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