Blind Luck, Havre de Grace Headline 2018 H.O.F. Finalists

Blind Luck (left) and Havre de Grace | Coglianese

Champions Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision) and Havre de Grace (Saint Liam) thrilled the racing world with their rivalry on the racetrack in the early 2010s and the two mares were once again associated Thursday morning when they were among four racehorses, three jockeys and three trainers named as finalists on the National Museum of Racing's 2018 Hall of Fame ballot. As chosen by the Museum's Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, the 10 finalists are: horses Blind Luck, Havre de Grace, Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat), Heavenly Prize (Seeking the Gold); jockeys Robby Albarado, Corey Nakatani and Craig Perret; and trainers Mark Casse, John Shirreffs and David Whiteley.

Casse, Shirreffs, Whiteley, Albarado and Perret were all named finalists in 2017, as was Gio Ponti. Nakatani was previously a finalist in 2015. 1994 champion sophomore filly Heavenly Prize joins Blind Luck and Havre de Grace as first-time finalists.

Blind Luck captured Grade I events at the ages of two, three and four, earning over $3.2 million for trainer Jerry Hollendorefer, Mark DeDomenico LLC, John Carver and Peter Abruzzo; while Fox Hill Farms' Havre de Grace banked $2.5 million and was named 2011 Horse of the Year. The pair began their well-documented rivalry in the 2010 GII Delaware Oaks, with Blind Luck getting the better of Havre de Grace in a photo finish. She repeated the feat one month later in Saratoga's GI Alabama S., but Havre de Grace returned the favor in the GII Cotillion S. at Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing) in October. After Blind Luck and Havre de Grace respectively ran second and third behind Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song) in the GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic at year end, the former was crowned champion sophomore filly of 2010.

The rivalry continued into 2011, with Havre de Grace besting Blind Luck in Oaklawn Park's GIII Azeri S. The pair would later return to Delaware Park to meet one final time, with Blind Luck hitting the wire a nose in front of Havre de Grace in the GII Delaware H. Havre de Grace would go on to defeat male rivals in the GI Woodward S. in her next start, cementing her Horse of the Year honors.

Gio Ponti, a finalist for the second consecutive year, amassed 10 graded stakes victories–eight of which were Grade Is–and earnings of over $6.1 million in a career that saw him earn three championship honors for owner Castleton Lyons and trainer Christophe Clement.

Champion Heavenly Prize, an Ogden Phipps homebred, reeled off win streaks of three consecutive Grade I races at three and four straight at age four en route to a career that saw her never finish off the board in 18 starts for trainer Shug McGaughey.

On the trainer side of the ballot, Casse, 57, began his training career in 1979 and has won over 2,400 races to date with earnings exceeding $142 million. Among his most notable runners in recent years are popular dual champion Tepin (Bernstein), 2016 juvenile champion Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) and, most recently, 2017 champion turf horse and Horse of the Year finalist World Approval (Northern Afleet).

Shirreffs, 72, who also made the final ballot for the second straight year, is best known as the trainer of the celebrated 2010 Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}), as well as 2005 GI Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo (Holy Bull). He most recently achieved at the highest level with Gormley (Malibu Moon), who captured the GI FrontRunner S. as a juvenile in 2016 and the GI Santa Anita Derby as a 3-year-old in 2017.

Whiteley, the son of Hall of Fame trainer Frank Whiteley, gained acclaim as the trainer of champions Waya, Revidere and Just a Game. Winning at a stunning 32.7% clip throughout his training career, the conditioner also is well known for foiling Spectacular Bid's 1979 Triple Crown attempt with Coastal in the GI Belmont S.

Among the jockey finalists, Perret won 4,415 races spanning from 1967 through 2005, while Albarado continues to ride in a career that has seen him earn over $214 million and gain fame as the regular rider of two-time Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer Curlin (Smart Strike) and 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft (A.P. Indy). Nakatani's memorable mounts include Hall of Famers Lava Man and Serena's Song. To date, he has banked earnings in excess of $233 million.

The finalists were selected by the Hall of Fame's Nominating Committee from a total of 90 initial candidates. Hall of Fame voters may select as many candidates as they believe are worthy of induction to the Hall of Fame. All candidates that receive majority approval (50.1% or higher) of the voting panel will be elected to the Hall of Fame.

The 2018 Hall of Fame induction ceremony is set for Aug. 3 at Fasig-Tipton in Saratoga Springs.

 

Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.

Copy Article Link

X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.