Blind Luck: The Early Days (Before She Was Famous)

Blind Luck, who is leading the chase for the champion 3-year-old filly title, didn't have a distinguished sales career. Bred and consigned by veterinarian Bill Baker's Fairlawn Farm, she brought $11,000 at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July select yearling sale and then was a $10,000 buy-back at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. April sale of 2-year-olds in training.

But Blind Luck (by Pollard's Vision) has made a name for her self on the racetrack, where she's won such important races as the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and the Betfair TVG Alabama Stakes (gr. I).

Following is some information about her early life that came from interviews following the Oaks.

Blind Luck has a scar on her right leg from running through a fence. According to Baker, a Great Pyrenees, which is a large white livestock guardian dog, was involved in the incident.

"We had lost the Great Pyrenees that we had and we were trying out another Great Pyrenees that was a rescue dog, and needless to say, it didn't work out," Baker said. "We've got a nice one now and it works all night patroling and we have no problems with coyotes or anything else."

Baker's wife,  Terry, said Blind Luck was "very tall, long, and lanky" as a young horse and "very determined" and "very tough." She was the ruler of her field that had two other fillies in it, "and she was the first one at the food," Terry said. Blind Luck was prepared for her yearling auction experience in a round pen and was "halfway broke" by the time she was sold, according to Terry.

The Bakers' daughter, McEwangives the farm's foals nicknames when they are born. Blind Luck's nickname was Clover, which was inspired by her dam's name, Lucky One. The mare's Successful Appeal filly that was born earlier this year is nicknamed Princess.

Lucky One stands about 17.1 hands. When she was bred to the smaller Pollard's Vision in the mating that produced Blind Luck, a hole had to be dug for Lucky One to stand in so Pollard's Vision could get his job done, according to Terry.