Holy Sh__... I mean, Holy Blitzer!

Posted by Avram Freedberg

When I first saw Holy Blitzer in person at Clyde Rice’s Indian Prairie Ranch, she was a beautiful, filled out, gray yearling about to turn 2. Next time, I saw her in Linda’s barn and didn’t believe she was the same horse. She had turned mostly white and thinned out a great deal. Actually, she reminded me of Katy’s Office Girl, who looked like that when she was a yearling.

Her first race last month looked awful. She started almost last in 10th position and never could catch up. She was running against other $15,000 maiden claimers… a pretty lowly group. She was one of the lows of the low. So, when she was the morning line favorite and Linda said she could win today’s race against $12,500 maiden claimers, I didn’t understand how she was going to accomplish that. I took a group to the Big A today to watch her but warned them of what should have been obvious to all. She wasn’t likely to win, no matter what the trainer and the track handicapper said. In fact, I mentioned my thought that the low odds from the track handicapper came about when he thought she was going to be coupled in the betting with a stablemate who had soundly trounced her by 6 lengths in their last meeting. However, that horse was scratched.

When she went off at almost 4-1 as the third choice, this seemed more in line, though it still seemed aggressive. Then, the bell sounded and the gate opened. She got a good start… not first but 2nd and then she was eased back to 3rd. Even though she was wearing blinkers to keep her focused, she kept looking around. As they came into the homestretch, her jockey, Gabriel Saez, asked her for more and she gave it… but just as she passed the leader, she looked to her right, tried to stride to her right and lost some ground. She was meandering right and left. Then Saez got into her and she started straightening away… and pulling away. Like a white steed with her little knight in gold and brown silks with Cricket in the middle urging her on, she took command. The chart shows her 2 ¾ lengths ahead of the 2nd place finisher. She WON! Imagine the margin if she had not had to run on the outside and if she didn’t do so much sightseeing.

Obviously, I’m thrilled she won but sad that I didn’t back her strongly. Much of my group shied away from strong backing because I was so down on her. I had forgotten one thing. She was the name sake of Jim Balitsos, Sr., the original Blitzer. No doubt his spirit helped her to victory. Yes, the other horses were pretty bad (the 2nd placer, Favorite Color, has run 20 times without winning – finishing 2nd 8 times and 3rd 4 times. She’s actually earned over $60K, pretty good for a non-winner of 20). Nonetheless, she was victorious. Go Blitzer!

I have to say, it felt good to make it to the winner’s circle, especially with my group present… and Rhoda, who couldn’t join us for lunch, but came down just for the race, standing next to me. I’m one lucky guy!

Happy Passover and Easter to all. I bet you’ll be hearing from me soon again.

Best,
A.


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