Blind Luck loped lazily along at the back of the pack, looking more like a bored jogger than the best 3-year-old filly on the planet.
And even though trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer had seen his star pull this trick a handful of times, there were anxious moments during the Kentucky Oaks as jockey Rafael Bejarano patiently waited to tell the heavy 6-5 favorite to get going.
``I was really concerned,'' Hollendorfer said in typically understated fashion.
Blind Luck's response: ``Relax boss, I've got this.''
With Bejarano nudging her at the half-mile mark to get her attention, then swinging her wide at the top of the stretch to give her room, Blind Luck tracked down Evening Jewel in the final yards to win the filly version of the Kentucky Derby at the wire Friday at sun-splashed Churchill Downs.
``This horse does this over and over, she gives you heart failure coming down the lane,'' said co-owner Mark DeDomenico. ``I'm always saying to Bejarano, 'Please don't make it that close,' and the next time it's that close.''
Though her performance lacked the dominance of Rachel Alexandra's record-setting 20 1/4-length romp in last year's Oaks, Blind Luck made up for it in dramatics.
She appeared to be beaten when Unrivaled Belle and jockey Kent Desormeaux were in front at the top of the stretch. Desormeaux was looking to pull his second stunner of the day after helping Unrivaled Belle outduel Rachel Alexandra in the La Troienne Stakes.
The Hall of Fame rider was so juiced after knocking off racing's superstar he playfully flexed his muscles for the cameras.
Not this time.
Evening Jewel was in command with a furlong to go but couldn't keep her head in front after Blind Luck pulled even yards from the finish.
``That stings,'' Desormeaux said. ``I knew turning for home I was a winner and I got beat.''
Technically the margin was a nose. It looked more like an eyelash, though Bejarano had little doubt which horse's number would flash across the top of the tote board.
``I knew my filly, right at the wire she pulled ahead,'' Bejarano said. ``I was not for sure 100 percent, but I was 99 percent.''
Blind Luck paid $4.60, $3.60 and $2.80 while covering the 1 1/8-mile route in 1:50.70 to give Hollendorfer his third Oaks victory.
Hollendorfer directed his praise to Bejarano, whom he'd criticized after Blind Luck stumbled to a third-place finish in the Santa Anita Oaks in February.
``There was no panic button pushed,'' he said. ``She had run from behind before. Rafael picked her up and got her going.''
A half-mile in, Bejarano nudged Blind Luck to wake her up. He did it again after going six-wide in the stretch, and it was all she needed.
``I know she was going to have a real big kick in the end,'' Bejarano said.
Evening Jewel paid $9.40 and $7.20 for second. Tidal Pool, under Calvin Borel, sprinted to the lead and paid $5 after hanging on to third.
Rachel Alexandra used her Oaks victory as a springboard to the Preakness, where she beat the boys on her way to becoming Horse of the Year. Hollendorfer, however, doubts he'll head to Pimlico in two weeks for the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
``I would say we probably wouldn't do that,'' he said.
Simply winning the Oaks is enough. Though Blind Luck has largely dominated the filly division over the last year, winning six of nine starts, she was never pointed to the Derby.
The decision had nothing to do with Blind Luck's talent. Hollendorfer has always coveted the Oaks, though he didn't mind when rival Devil May Care was entered in the Kentucky Derby after early favorite Eskendereya was pulled from the Run for the Roses with a leg injury.
The defection made Blind Luck a heavy favorite in the Oaks. She made it stand up.
Barely.
``She always fires,'' Bejarano said. ``This is the first time she gave me extra finish in the end.''
Blind Luck needed every last bit of it. Hollendorfer and company purchased the horse in Florida because he felt she would be a stakes horse.
``She's delivered,'' Hollendorfer said.
So has Hollendorfer. He's long been one of the sport's most successful trainers but his name was left off the ballot for the Hall of Fame when it was released recently. It's an oversight DeDomenico said needs to be addressed soon.
``Jerry gets up at 3:30 every morning and goes to the track doesn't stop until it's dark and then he goes to bed,'' DeDomenico said. ``He should be on the ballot next time it comes around.''
