Indian Blessing Stays Perfect In Silverbulletday

Patti and Hal Earnhardt’s Indian Blessing remained unbeaten with a one-length victory over Proud Spell in the $200,000 Grade III Silverbulletday Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Louisiana Derby Preview Day Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Indian Blessing, sent off as the odds-on favorite in a field of seven, settled in second place behind Miss Missile for the first half-mile before taking command inside the half-mile pole. She then held off the late charge of Proud Spell in a repeat of the 1-2 finish of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

“She handled a lot today,” said trainer Bob Baffert, who also trained the race’s namesake. “She showed today she can get the distance. I think she likes two turns better.”

Eclipse Award-winning jockey Garrett Gomez was pleased with Indian Blessing’s performance as well.

“She relaxed very nice coming off the (Santa Ynez),” said Gomez, referring to the filly’s last start at Santa Anita in which she led the field through a half-mile in :43 3-5 seconds. “She got a little tired with the super-long stretch at the sixteenth pole.”

Indian Blessing, who won for the fifth time in as many lifetime starts, increased her career earnings to $1,567,000.

Proud Spell, who was making her first start since the Breeders’ Cup, left her connections pleased.

“First race back, it was a nice effort,” said trainer Larry Jones. “Our eye is on the big prize with the Kentucky Oaks and even the Fair Grounds Oaks (March 8). She got a little tired but it was a good effort.”

While Jones is based at Fair Grounds, Baffert said he “will see how (Indian Blessing) is” before determining whether she will return to New Orleans for the Fair Grounds Oaks.

Indian Blessing paid $3.40, $2.20 and $2.10. Proud Spell returned $2.60 and $2.40. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to third-place finisher Highest Class, who returned $3 to show.