BLIND DATE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT IN ALL BRANDY STAKES
LAUREL, MD. 11-06-10---With a late surge closing in on the finish line, William Backer’s Blind Date pushed to the fore and won the $50,000 All Brandy Stakes this afternoon at Laurel Park. The 3-5 favorite beat six other Maryland-bred fillies and mares in the one mile test which had been moved from the soggy turf to the fast main track after heavy rains earlier in the week.
Erick Rodriguez kept Blind Date far back from pacesetter Fascinatin’ Rhythm, who led to the 3/16ths marker before surrendering fairly easily when confronted by Ask the Moon, who had joined Blind Date in run to the finish line. Blind Date completed the one mile distance in 1:38.02 and finished ¾’s of a length ahead of Ask the Moon, while defending champion Love’s Blush loomed a threat but finished third.
The daughter of Not For Love, who is trained by Hamilton Smith, has been a consistent winner on both the turf and the main track. She came into the All Brandy off a strong victory in the Maryland Million Distaff Handicap. This was her sixth career stakes victory.
“I really had plenty of horse,” said Rodriguez. “I didn’t know how much horse Karamanos (Horacio Karamanos on Ask the Moon) had but I was comfortable. I was in-between horses and waiting to see what happened. I just had a lot more horse.”
The victory moved Smith ahead of Ferris Allen and into the top spot in the trainer standings for the fall meeting, which began Sept. 11 and will end Dec. 18. The 65-year-old has 13 first place finishes, one more than Allen. In the last two weeks he has saddled five winners, including two-win days on Oct. 27 and Nov. 5.
“We’re very proud of her,” said Smith of his 4-year-old star. “It looked as if she wasn’t getting in gear as she usually does but once she got clear, she made a run.”
Blind Date, who is now eight-of-17 lifetime with earnings of $357,260, paid $3.20. The exacta returned $15.40 and the triple paid $39.20.
For the second consecutive year, Rodriguez spent five months riding at Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania and returned to Laurel Park the week of Maryland Million. The 30-year-old won three races on the Saturday card and now ranks fourth in the jockey standings with 19 wins from just 81 mounts.
“It takes time rebuilding business but I’m coming,” said Rodriguez, who captured the 2009 fall and 2010 winter riding titles.
-mjc-
PHOTO CREDIT-Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club
Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club
410-578-4461 (Pimlico)
301-470-5461 (Laurel Park)
240-876-7403 (Mobile)
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