by Jeff Apel

Trainer Bob Baffert’s long-range plans for multiple Grade 1 winner Indian Blessing include the Sentient Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on October 24 at Santa Anita Park.

The 2007 champion two-year-old filly will continue her quest to earn her second Eclipse Award and face older challengers for the first time on Saturday in the $300,000 Ruffian Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park. Indian Blessing will make her fourth career start over 1 1/16 miles in the Ruffian, a race that Baffert hopes will serve as an important Breeders’ Cup prep.

“It’s a mile and a sixteenth, but it’s one turn,” Baffert said. “I think she’s relaxing a little bit more. Now is the time to try it.”

A career earner of $1,997,200, Indian Blessing made her first start over 1 1/16-miles in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Monmouth Park, and posted a 3 1/2-length victory against runner-up Proud Spell. Indian Blessing made her other two starts at 1 1/16 miles at Fair Grounds, besting runner-up Proud Spell to win the Silverbulletday Stakes (G3) on February 9 prior to finishing second to the same foe in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) on March 8.

“Proud Spell and her, those are two tough fillies,” Baffert said.

A Hal and Patti Earnhardt homebred, Indian Blessing enters off a seven-length romp in the Test Stakes (G1), a seven-furlong race on August 2 at Saratoga Race Course. Indian Blessing posted a 5 1/4-length win in the Prioress Stakes (G1), a six-furlong race on July 5 at Belmont Park, prior to winning the Test.

Jockey John Velazquez guided Indian Blessing to victory in the Prioress and Test. He was also in the saddle when the Indian Charlie filly breezed six furlongs in 1:12.17 on August 31 at Saratoga in preparation for the Ruffian.

“I never rode her long, but if you can sit quietly with her, you can get her to rate in the middle of the track and give her a chance,” Velazquez said.

Indian Blessing will face a field of eight fillies and mares that also includes Grade 1 winner and stablemate Tough Tiz’s Sis and Grade 1 winner Little Belle.

Baffert also trains Tough Tiz’s Sis, a California invader who won the 2007 Lady’s Secret Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park. Tough Tiz’s Sis finished third in the Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (G2) in her previous start on August 2 at Del Mar.

Little Belle enters off a third-place finish to Proud Spell in the Alabama Stakes (G1) on August 16 at Saratoga. Trained by Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin Racing, Little Belle earned her first graded stakes win in the Ashland Stakes (G1) on April 5 at Keeneland Race Course.

Jeff Apel is a Thoroughbred Times assistant daily news editor

The field, in post-position order, with (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:

1. Little Belle (A.P. Indy), Rajiv Maragh, 113, Saeed bin Suroor;

2. Rite Moment (Vicar), Eibar Coa, 116, Gary Contessa;

3. Copper State (Jump Start), Shaun Bridgmohan, 115, Steve Asmussen;

4. Indian Blessing (Indian Charlie), John Velazquez, 116, Bob Baffert;

5. Spring Waltz (Silver Charm), Javier Castellano, 117, Bobby Frankel;

6. Stage Luck (Unbridled's Song), Corey Nakatani, 114, Tom Albertrani;

7. Tough Tiz's Sis (Tiznow), Edgar Prado, 119, Bob Baffert;

8. Boca Grande (A.P. Indy), Cornelio Velasquez, 115, Shug McGaughey; and

9. Miraculous Miss (Mr. Greeley), Alan Garcia, 115, Steve Klesaris.