Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

LOUISVILLE, Ky. –   A crowd 116,046 screamed its collective head off as Blind Luck came charging in the final sixteenth of a mile to nip Evening Jewel at the wire by a nose and win the 136^th running of the Kentucky Oaks Friday at Churchill Downs.

The 3-year-old daughter of Pollard’s Vision started the race dead last in the 14-horse field and stayed there until jockey Rafael Bejarano started moving her up at the three-eighths pole. She picked up a couple of positions by the middle of the turn and Bejarano swung her six wide to circle the field coming off the turn.
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Photo/American Teletimer
Blind Luck (outside) beats Evening Jewel by a nose to win Friday’s Grade I Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
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Evening Jewel was in the catbird seat for most of the race as she tracked behind Tidal Pool, Ailalea and Age of Humor through fractions of 23.45, 48.95 and 1:12.50 for six furlongs. Tidal Pool was stubborn about surrendering her lead to Evening Jewel, but she finally did just before the eighth-pole.

Bejarano had Blind Luck in the clear near the center of the track and they set dead aim on Evening Jewel and her jockey Kent Desormeaux. Evening Jewel still had a two-length lead at this point, but the eventual winner dug in and nailed the leader and won the head bob at the wire.

“I was comfortable with her at the half-mile and I knew I still had a lot of horse,” Bejarano said. “I got her in a better position, and then just let her kick home.”

Tidal Pool held on for third and Beautician closed quickly to take fourth.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who also is one of the owners, said, “It was a tough win but she deserved to win. Rafael gave her a great ride. I thought she won, but I wasn’t sure until they put the picture up.”
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Jerry Hollendorfer
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Hollendorfer and his group was asked what was next for the talented filly and he said they would get together and map out a plan for the rest of the year. He did not sound like he had any plans to follow in Rachel Alexandra’s footstep and head to the Preakness like Rachel did in 2009 after winning the Oaks.

The other owners are Mark DeDomenico, John Carver and Peter Abruzzo.