Blind Luck wins Oak Leaf Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, earns Breeders’ Cup berth

Blind Luck wins Oak Leaf at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. — Blind Luck overtook Always a Princess in the final sixteenth to win the $300,000 Oak Leaf Stakes for 2-year-old fillies Sunday and earn an automatic berth in next month’s Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita.

Under Tyler Baze, Blind Luck ran 1 1-16 miles on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface in 1:43.19 to win by 2½ lengths. She paid $9, $4.60 and $3.60 at 7-2 odds.

“She was a little keen at the break and it took me a moment to get her to settle,” Baze said. “Things got a little tight around the first turn, but besides that, we had a clean trip. Turning for home, the seas parted and she ran great to the wire.”

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Always a Princess returned $4.60 and $4 as the 3-1 wagering favorite. Bickersons paid $11.40 to show in her first race on a synthetic surface. It Tiz was fourth in the 11-horse field.

Blind Luck earned a spot in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 6 for trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer.

Baffert said he was looking for Always a Princess to hit the board to get into the Breeders’ Cup.

“She got a little tired at the end, but she did all the running,” he said. “This will set her up perfect for the Breeders’ Cup.”

Always a Princess led all the way along the rail under Garrett Gomez until getting beat late.

“I liked the way she did everything,” he said. “She fought herself back into second after being all the way back to third, and she galloped out nicely. Hopefully, this will set her up to end up in the winner’s circle next time.”