Blind Luck, A.U. Miner win major local races

Blind Luck beat rival Havre de Grace by a nose to win the 74th running of the Grade II $750,000 Delaware Handicap on Saturday at Delaware Park in Wilmington.

Ridden by Garret Gomez, Blind Luck raced along in fourth in the field of five fillies and mares through the opening seven furlongs, then moved up quickly on the outside when Ramon Dominguez moved favorite Have De Grace to a clear lead leaving the second turn.

The pair were tight through the stretch stride for stride with Blind Luck just getting up in the final stride for her 12th career win and a guaranteed spot in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic this fall.

"This is a total grudge match," Gomez said. "These two fillies butt heads, and when they get together it is a grudge match, so they got a good little rivalry going."

Havre de Grace trainer J. Larry Jones did not think his filly should have been assigned the high weight at 124 pounds, with Blind Luck at 122.

"Tell me two pounds does not make a difference," Jones said. "[Blind Luck] won six Grade I's vs. our one, and we are the high weight; that makes a lot of sense. I probably should not have run."

Blind Luck, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, paid $4.20 as the second choice and covered the 11/4 miles in 2 minutes, 1.28 seconds. Life at Ten finished third, 181/2 lengths back.

Greenwood Cup. A.U. Miner came from 12 lengths off the pace to win the $200,000 Greenwood Cup at Parx Racing and earn a spot in the Breeders' Cup marathon. The 6-year-old son of Mineshaft won the 11/2-mile race for the second straight year.

A half-mile into the race, A.U. Miner, with Calvin Borel aboard, was down 12 lengths and in last place. That deficit was down to six lengths with a half-mile to go and A.U. Miner blew past Birdrun and Ponzi Scheme in the home stretch.

A.U. Miner went off as the second choice and paid $8.80, $3.20, and $2.80.