|
|
Devil May Care could meet Blind Luck in Alabama DEVIL MAY CARE (Malibu Moon), who scored her second Grade 1 victory of the year in Saturday's Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga, will be pointed to the Spa's Alabama S. (G1) on August 21, according to trainer Todd Pletcher. The Alabama, run at 1 1/4 miles, is also under consideration for Kentucky Oaks (G1) queen BLIND LUCK (Pollard's Vision), whom Devil May Care has yet to meet in competition as Pletcher opted to send his filly to the Kentucky Derby (G1) instead of the Oaks. "Blind Luck is obviously a top-class filly," Pletcher admitted. "When we decided to go to the (Kentucky) Derby, and she won the (Kentucky Oaks), it gave her a bit of an upper hand. I think we made up some ground in the last couple, and it's going to come down to a head-to-head match-up at some point. "The Alabama is going to be a good spot to find out." Pletcher added that his bay charge came out of her CCA Oaks performance in excellent order. "It would be hard for me to see her run any better than she did yesterday," Pletcher said. "When Johnny (Velazquez) turned for home, he was loaded. The way she finished and the way she galloped out was very impressive. She's one of those horses that has natural stamina." Devil May Care, who was 10th in the Derby, now has back-to-back Grade 1 wins, having taken the Mother Goose at Belmont Park on June 26, and also the Bonnie Miss S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park in March. The California-based Blind Luck, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, has been no worse than third in 12 lifetime starts. She began her 2010 campaign with a victory in the Las Virgenes S. (G1), and in addition to the Kentucky Oaks also won the Fantasy S. (G2) and the Delaware Oaks (G2) in her most recent start. "She's got that little extra something, that she wants to win, and gets her nose down at the wire," Pletcher said of Blind Luck, who has won three races by a nose this year. In other Pletcher news, the conditioner postponed until Monday the works of top older male QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality), whose next start will be the August 7 Whitney H. (G1), as well as that of Kentucky Derby winner SUPER SAVER (Maria's Mon), who is headed to the Haskell Invitational (G1) next Sunday at Monmouth Park. The trainer is hoping that both Super Saver and multiple Grade 1-placed AIKENITE (Yes It's True), who is expected to start in Saturday's Jim Dandy S. (G2), will make the Spa's premier event, the 141st running of the $1 million Travers S. (G1) on August 28. The trainer added that WINAHOLIC (Tiznow), third to Aikenite in an allowance at Belmont Park, will start next in the Curlin S. on August 1 and could also make the "Midsummer Derby." "If he fires big, it will be under consideration," Pletcher said.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
