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2010 Kentucky Oaks Results


Jockey Rafael Bejarano celebrates aboard Kentucky Oaks winner Blind Luck.
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Blind Luck wins the Kentucky Oaks
Date: 04/30/2010

The $500,000 Kentucky Oaks (G1) is the premier race in the country for 3-year-old fillies, and is the female counterpart to the Kentucky Derby. A full field of 14 went to post in this 1 1/8 mile main track feature at Churchill Downs before a record crowd of 116,046, topping the previous mark of 111,243 set back in 2005. As expected, Blind Luck was sent off as the 6-5 favorite, off her 2 1/2 length victory in the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park. In to challenge her included 5-1 second choice Amen Hallelujah, second in the Bonnie Miss after winning the Davona Dale, both at Gulfstream, and 8-1 third choice It's Tea Time, second in the Ashland last out and making just her fourth lifetime start.

Blind Luck rallies on the outside of Evening Jewel and Tidal Pool.

9-1 Tidal Pool was sent to the front first time past the stands by jockey Calvin Borel, and she set early fractions of 23.95, 48.15, and 1:12.50 while saving ground down on the rail. 22-1 Ailalea stalked her in second while jockey Rafael Bejarano kept favorite Blind Luck at the back of the field, 10 lengths off the pace down the backstretch. Turning for home, Ailalea tired while Blind Luck switched to the outside for running room. 13-1 Evening Jewel, who was fourth early, came through to pass Tidal Pool at the 3/16 to gain a short lead through 1 mile in 1:37.48, but Blind Luck was gaining with every stride. The pair hit the line together in 1:50.70. The photo determined that Blind Luck got up by a nose for the win, and it was another 2 3/4 lengths back from Evening Jewel to Tidal Pool third.

There were five other stakes races on the card with the Oaks. Full results for all of them with more photos are here.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey         Win   Place  Show
 5   Blind Luck         Bejarano      4.60    3.60  2.60
11   Evening Jewel      Desormeaux            9.40  7.20
 8   Flying Spur        Borel                       5.00

Winning Time:  1:50.70

$2 Exacta 5-11                58.40
$2 Trifecta 5-11-8           389.80
$2 Superfecta 5-11-8-6     4,100.40
Full results chart from DRF


Left: Blind Luck circles with her flowers before entering the winner's circle. Her trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer said, "`I was real concerned. But there was no panic button pushed. I didn't know she was a winner until they put her number up. It was a tough win and she deserved it. I am very grateful and thankful. This race is very special and the best for 3-year-old fillies. It means a lot to me, our breeder and the rest of the partners. When I bought her, I paid way more than the $40,000 claiming price, so we always anticipated she would be a stakes horse. She's delivered." Asked if she would go next in the Preakness, Hollendorfer said, `"I would say we probably wouldn't do that. It's too soon and the Oaks was our goal all along. We'll come up with a plan later. Let's enjoy this one first."

Right: Blind Luck heads back to the barn after the race.


Left: Blind Luck heads into the paddock before the race. Majority owner Mark DeDomenico added, "This horse does this over and over. She nearly gives me heart failure. I always ask Rafael, 'Don't make it that close.' Jerry should be on that (Hall of Fame) ballot. He should be on that ballot the next time it comes around."

Right: Blind Luck in the post parade. Her jockey Rafael Bejarano said, "I saw a lot of speed in the race. I tried to leave her alone in the beginning. She broke kind of slow a little bit, like she does always. From the 5/8 pole, I had to make a middle move to get into position before the final turn. After getting into position, I waited a little bit and then into the straight, I knew she was going to show a big kick at the end, but I knew I had it. My filly has always fought hard. The other horse was still running strong. She gave me an extra kick, and that's why she finished. Right at the wire she pulled ahead. I was not for sure 100% (of the photo result) but I was 99%."


Left: Second place finisher Evening Jewel returns after the race. Her trainer Jim Cassidy said, "Oh, man, that was hard. We had the same result in the Los Virgenes at Santa Anita and I thought we had won that one, too. Everyone around us today thought she had won; we did, too. I knew we did. She's a game, game filly. When she saw (Blind Luck) she dug in and came back at her again. Toughest beat of my career, no question. I've been beaten some dirty noses in Grade 1's at other tracks, but given the context here: Kentucky Oaks, all that money, huge crowd, this was the toughest one of all." Jockey Kent Desormeaux added, "That stings. This race has eluded me; I really wanted to win it. And I knew turning for home I was a winner. And I got beat. Really stings."

Right: Third place finisher Tidal Pool in the post parade. Her jockey Calvin Borel said, "She ran a good race. She just got outrun, more than anything. When I called on her she went about her business and just got outrun." Trainer D. Wayne Lukas added, "Good. We ran a hell of a race. We just weren't good enough. Ran a good one."

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