Sunday, September 21, 2008

INDIAN BLESSING BLOSSOMS AGAIN IN GALLANT BLOOM

If the idea was to give Indian Blessing a strong race, the idea lasted for about five furlongs Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park. But suddenly, as if she had grown tired of Zada Belle’s company, Indian Blessing pulled away to an easy 6¼-length victory in the 15th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap for fillies and mares at six and a half furlongs.

The 3-year-old Indian Charlie filly has now won eight of 10 career starts, and Saturday’s winner’s share of $90,000 lifted her to more than $2 million in lifetime earnings. The champion juvenile filly of 2007, Indian Blessing is likely headed to Santa Anita for the $1 million, seven-furlong Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on Saturday, October 24.


Trained by Bob Baffert and managed in New York by Tonja Terranova, Indian Blessing scared off most of the competition in the Gallant Bloom and then was aided by the scratch of Sugar Swirl. That reduced the field to four, and Indian Blessing had the rail.

Jockey Corey Nakatani, who won two races earlier on the card, held his position inside as Zada Belle got the early jump on Indian Blessing. With little encouragement, Indian Blessing came up to challenge Zada Belle and jockey Eibar Coa and the pair went together through the opening quarter-mile of 22.70 and the half of 45.09.

At the quarter-pole, Zada Belle began to drift out and fade and a new challenge came from Elope, who had won her two other starts easily. She put in a good showing, but Indian Blessing was not about to be upstaged by an upstart.

She opened up quickly and glided home the winner in 1:16.24 on the fast main track.

“She broke really good, I sat there and I was biding my time,” Nakatani said. “I was pretty patient waiting to call on her turning for home. I called on her, and she kicked away and did what she had to do to win. It’s like driving a Ferrari. I spoke with Bob (Baffert) in California the other day and he just said, `Be patient.’ He said that Coa’s horse (Zada Belle) would try to drift out a little bit, and so just sneak up on the inside and let her do her thing. I said, `Okay, no problem.’ I’ve been waiting for this.”

The $2 win players in the crowd of 5,972 got back $2.70, but also saw a true champion at work. Indian Blessing carried 119 pounds, and conceded from three to five pounds to her rivals.

“She’s just been doing incredible,” said Terranova, who oversees trainer Bob Baffert’s horses in New York. “She’s been so relaxed. She’s been so willing (to do) anything that the rider wants. We’ve been very happy with her. She’s a champion and a dream to be around.”

Elope, Porte Bonheur and Zada Belle trailed.


GALLANT BLOOM HANDICAP QUOTES

Tonja Terranova, New York stable manager for winning trainer Bob Baffert of favored Indian Blessing (No. 1): “She’s just been doing incredible. She’s been so relaxed. She’s been so willing (to do) anything that the rider wants. We’ve been very happy with her. She’s a champion and a dream to be around.”

Winning jockey Corey Nakatani (third winner on the day): “She broke really good, I sat there and I was biding my time. I was pretty patient waiting to call on her turning for home. I called on her, and she kicked away and did what she had to do to win. It’s like driving a Ferrari. I spoke with Bob (Baffert, trainer) in California the other day and he just said, `Be patient.’ He said that Coa’s horse (Zada Belle) would try to drift out a little bit, and so just sneak up on the inside and let her do her thing. I said, `Okay, no problem.’ I’ve been waiting for this.”

Comments (0)