Gallant Bloom Handicap
by Patricia Woo | Sep 21 2009
The $150,000 Gr. 2
Gallant Bloom Handicap is one of the most important races for top fillies and mares on the road to the
Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita in November. This 6.5-furlong dirt test for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up will be held at
Belmont Park in Elmont, NY, on Saturday, Sept. 26.
This year's event features some of racing's biggest names - Indian Blessing, Music Note and Sara Louise - as well as an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
On the comeback trail from illness is the defending Eclipse Award-winning Indian Blessing, a 4-year-old trained by Bob Baffert. She won the Gallant Bloom Handicap last year over an overmatched field but will face a greater challenge this year - not only in the quality of her opponents but in her own health. After ending her 2008 campaign with a stellar victory in the $250,000 Gr. 1 La Brea Stakes at
Santa Anita Park, she was shipped to Dubai to open her 2009 season in the $2M Dubai Golden Shaheen. But the trip may have taken a toll on her - after finishing second in that race in March, she was fourth in the $70,000 Desert Stormer Handicap at
Hollywood Park in June. She fell just short in the $300,000 Gr. 1 Ballerina Stakes in August behind rival Music Note - possibly due to missed training because of a foot injury and then poor track conditions at Saratoga. But Indian Blessing may be returning to form. In a recent breeze at Belmont on Sept. 14, she put in a quick 5-furlong workout in a time of 58.14 seconds, a signal that she may be ready for a breakout performance.
Music Note has already had her breakout performance of 2009 in the Ballerina Stakes on Aug. 29 when she defeated Indian Blessing and Gr. 1 Humana Distaff champion Informed Decision. That 5 ½-length win over a soggy track redeemed the daughter of A.P. Indy's previous performance, a 10 ¼-length defeat in the Gr. 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont in June. Not as speedy as Indian Blessing, Music Note will rely on her ability to come from off the pace and to handle any track condition to win on Saturday.
Another contender of note is Sara Louise, who has the distinction of being the last horse to beat champion filly Rachel Alexandra - albeit as a 2-year-old. Now a 3-year-old, Sara Louise is fresh off a win in the $110,000 Gr. 3 Victory Ride at Saratoga on Aug. 29 following a nine-month break from racing in Dubai under trainer Saeed bin Suroor's supervision. Also adept on a sloppy track, this daughter of Malibu Moon could build on her recent victory and earn a berth to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita in November.
Also among the expected challengers are 6-year-old Any Limit, who is trained by Allen Jerkens, and winner of five in a row, Thunders Dove.
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