Havre de Grace, whose string of photo-finish losses also includes a neck miss
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Blind Luck, who also counts wins in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), Fantasy S. (G2)
and Las Virgenes S. (G1) this season, is very much in the driver’s seat for
champion three-year-old filly honors. That is unlikely to change even if she
were to lose the Cotillion, which serves as her stepping-stone to the November 5
Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs. The Jerry
Hollendorfer-trained lass will once again have to endure another cross-country
trip from her Hollywood Park base, but with a five-for-five mark outside the
Golden State the acquisition of frequent flyer miles has so far had no negative
impact on her form.
Only three others were enticed by a fat purse to meet the top pair. AWESOME
MARIA (Maria’s Mon), who took the Matron S. (G2) last season, made her belated
sophomore debut for Todd Pletcher at Saratoga on September 2, displaying
versatility when taking a division of the Riskaverse S. over one mile of the
inner turf course. BONNIE BLUE FLAG (Mineshaft), who took the Cinemine S. at
Lone Star on Memorial Day, followed up with a third in the Prioress S. (G1) and
a second in the Test S. (G1) for Bob Baffert.
The outsider of the quintet is the D. Wayne Lukas-trained ABSINTHE MINDED
(Quiet American), an allowance-class sort who was last of six in both the
Monmouth Oaks (G3) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) this summer.