Indian Blessing, last year’s undefeated Eclipse champion juvenile
filly, is slated to make her return for the second half of her 3-year-old
campaign in the $250,000 Acorn Stakes (G1) on June 7 at Belmont Park.
The brilliant filly carried her perfect record of a year ago
into 2008 and quickly ran the streak to 5-for-5, adding wins early in the year
in the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita, defeating Grade 1 winner Golden
Doc A, and the Silverbulletday Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds, where she bested
eventual Kentucky Oaks winner Proud Spell.
In her last start, she faced defeat for the first time in
the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) on March 8, finishing a valiant second to Proud
Spell in a race where the final time was faster than Louisiana Derby winner and
early Kentucky Derby favorite Pyro recorded one race later at the same distance.
Since that race, the decision was made to bypass the Kentucky
Oaks and point for a summer campaign in New
York. The Acorn is a one-turn, one-mile event and is
the same trip Indian Blessing enjoyed when smartly winning the Frizette Stakes
(G1) at Belmont last year before her dominant win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Fillies (G1).
The rivalry between Indian Blessing and Proud Spell could
continue in the Acorn, as trainer Larry Jones has said that his charge could
also make her next start in the Grade 1 race. Indian Blessing holds a 2-1
advantage over Proud Spell in head-to-head meetings, and the Acorn could prove
to have season championship implications.
By Grade 1 winner Indian Charlie out of stakes winner Shameful
– both also trained by Baffert, Indian Blessing has earned $1,647,200 for owners
and breeders Hal and Patti Earnhardt. She recently signaled her readiness by breezing
six furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:10.20, fastest of 25 works at the distance on
May 7.