Indian Blessing

Indian Blessing (foaled April 9, 2005, in Kentucky) is an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse.

Out of the mare Shameful, a descendant of the very influential sire Mr. Prospector, Indian Blessing was sired by Indian Charlie, the 1998 Santa Anita Derby winner and a son of the multiple Grade I winner In Excess.

2007 racing season

Trained by Bob Baffert, racing at age two Indian Blessing went undefeated, winning all three of her starts. Always a front runner, after winning her debut in a sprint race at Saratoga Race Course, Indian Blessing won the one-mile Grade I Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. In her final race of 2007, she won the Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies by 3½ lengths on a sloppy track at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. Her 2007 performances earned Indian Blessing the Eclipse Award as American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly.

2008 racing season

Indian Blessing began her three-year-old campaign with a win in January's Grade II Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

She kept her unbeaten record intact with a win in the February 9 running of the Silverbulletday Stakes at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. She then lost the Fair Grounds Oaks on March 8 to Proud Spell. On June 7, Zaftig (Horse) weny past Indian Blessing to pull away to a 4½-length win in the $250,000 Acorn Stakes

After a two-race losing streak, Indian Blessing won the Prioress. On August 2, heavily favored Indian Blessing left five other 3-year-old fillies at the quarter pole and drew away to a 7-length victory in the $250,000 Test Stakes. She covered the 7 furlongs in 1:22.70. On September 20, she took on older mares for the first time, winning the Gallant Bloom Handicap by 6¼ lengths.^[1]

Indian Blessing finished her three-year-old campaign by winning her fifth Grade I race, the 7-furlong La Brea Stakes, in 1:20:89 on December 27, 2008. The race was marred by the injury of Indyanne, who battled Indian Blessing for the win. “This was a bittersweet win," Baffert said. "I’m very sad about what happened to Indyanne."

To date, five of Indian Blessing's wins have been at different racetracks. Much traveled, she has won at tracks on the U.S. Gulf Coast plus on both the East and West coasts of the United States.

Indian Blessing was awarded the Eclipse Award as American Champion Female Sprint Horse for 2008.

2009 Racing season

In the $2-million Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I) on March 28 at Nad Al Sheba, Big City Man, a 4-year-old colt bred by Four Horse Ranch and out of the Valid Appeal mare Mini Appeal, defeated North America’s champion female sprinter by barely a half-length in the six-furlong straight race.

Scheduled to race in the Grade I Humana Distaff Handicap on Derby Day, the filly was scratched from the race, which was won by Informed Decision.

Indian Blessing ran in the Desert Stormer Handicap, her first start at Hollywood Park, and finished 4h. She was out of the money for the first time ever. She then got sick and was treated with antibiotics, which necessitated her being scratched from the 2009 running of the Grade I Princess Rooney Handicap at Calder.

On August 29, 2009, Indian Blessing finished second behind Music Note in the Grade I Ballerina Stakes on a sloppy track. On September 26, 2009, she won her second consecutive Gallant Bloom Handicap, which put her back in contention for the 2009 Breeders' Cup World Championship.

Just before the Breeders' Cup on 6–7 November, her trainer Bob Baffert said that she will be retired.

At stud

Indian Blessing was bred to Zensational in 2010. On January 30, 2011, she produced a dark bay or brown colt.

References

• Indian Blessing's pedigree and partial racing stats
• Indian Blessing's profile at the Breeders' Cup Ltd. Official website
• Indian Blessing's win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies with video at the Breeders' Cup Ltd. Official website
• Indian Blessing looking for renewal