10/26/09 (Last updated: 10/26/09 8:16 PM)
Indian Blessing to bypass Breeders' Cup Dual champion INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) will sidestep the November 6 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) after a series of unsatisfactory works over the Santa Anita Pro-Ride, trainer Bob Baffert told Daily Racing Form. The four-year-old worked six furlongs in 1:12 4/5 over the track Sunday morning, but has not appeared comfortable over the synthetic surface since shipping back to California from Belmont Park."She just doesn't like the track," Baffert said. "She just doesn't like the track. What can you do? She looks good. It's frustrating. "I'm not going to pre-enter because I don't want the temptation to change my mind." Pre-entries for all 14 Breeders' Cup races are due Monday. A homebred racing in the colors of Hal and Patti Earnhardt, Indian Blessing was the juvenile filly champion of 2007 and was the 2008 champion female sprinter. She garnered the latter championship despite a second-place finish to Ventura (Chester House) in the Breeders' Cup Filly Sprint at Santa Anita last year. Though a winner of the La Brea S. (G1) and Santa Ynez S. (G2) over Santa Anita's synthetic surface, Indian Blessing has proven to be far better on dirt. Her Grade 1 scores on that surface have come in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Frizette S., Test S. and Prioress S. She's started only four times this season, placing in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) and Ballerina S. (G1) before winning the September 26 Gallant Bloom H. (G2) for the second straight year in a tight finish with Sara Louise (Malibu Moon). Indian Blessing is expected to be bred next spring, and there are no immediate plans to race her again. She boasts a record of 16-10-5-0, $2,995,420. |
