The budding rivalry between Blind Luck, the nation’s top 3-year-old filly, and Havre de Grace, who defeated her last Saturday in the Grade 2, $750,000 Fitz Dixon Cotillion at Parx Racing, could make its way to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.
The 1 1/8-mile race has long been the objective for Blind Luck, who won the Kentucky Oaks at the distance in May, while Havre de Grace’s connections were pondering a start on Monday.
“We have talked about the Breeders’ Cup, so that is a possibility at this point,” said Tony Dutrow, who trains Havre de Grace for Fox Hill Farm. “That’s the only race we have talked about.
“I think we could have a decision in the next handful of days.”
Havre de Grace earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 104 for her neck win in the Cotillion, which came after a summer in which she was edged by Blind Luck in both the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks and the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga. In the Cotillion, Havre de Grace stalked the pace and then fought off Blind Luck in the late stages to run 1 1/16 milef in 1:40.93.
“They were barely off the track record,” Dutrow said. “She performed brilliantly, like she always has. It was a very, very impressive performance.”
Havre de Grace, based at Delaware Park, is from the first and only crop of the late stallion St. Liam, who was Horse of the Year in 2005. St. Liam won the Breeders’ Cup Classic under the care of Dutrow’s brother, trainer Rick Dutrow.
Blind Luck toted 124 pounds in the Cotillion per the conditions of the stakes, spotting each of her rivals 10 pounds. In the Ladies’ Classic next month, Blind Luck and Havre de Grace would both carry 122 pounds as 3-year-olds. Jerry Hollendorfer, who co-owns and trains Blind Luck, said she cooled out well after the race Saturday.
“We got beat fair and square,” he said. “We’ll see what happens in the Breeders’ Cup.”
Hollendorfer said Blind Luck was scheduled to fly back to her Southern California base on Tuesday.
Awesome Maria was third in the Cotillion, finishing 10 lengths behind Blind Luck with a Beyer Figure of 86. One start prior Awesome Maria won the $70,000 Riskaverse on turf at Saratoga and she could return to the grass for her next start, said her trainer, Todd Pletcher.
