Hard Spun Races Syntheticly to Win
Larry Jones trained Bay Back in Victory Column at Turfway Park
Hard Spun didn't like Oaklawn's natural surface, owner Rick Porter said. In the synthetic Lane's End Stakes, Hard Spun romped across Polytrack and won going away.
Rick Porter, owner of Fox Hill Farm and Kentucky Derby hopeful Hard Spun, sent his colt to Turfway Park's synthetic all weather track for the Lane's End Stakes, a $500,000 major Derby prep contest held March 24.
Hard Spun came through solidly, blasting to a 3-1/4 length victory under jockey Mario Pino. The Danzig sired colt covered the 1-1/8 miles in 1:49-2/5.
The three-year-old Pennsylvania-bred thoroughbred had trained before on a man-made surface at Fair Hill Training Center. Handled by trainer Larry Jones, Hard Spun won four consecutive races, then ran fourth in the Oaklawn Park Southwest Stakes. Porter decided to let the colt return to a synthetic track.
Colt again a Derby Contender
It was a triumphant return that landed Hard Spun back into Kentucky Derby contention, as he bested 11 rivals. His career record vaulted to five wins in six starts, and his total income climbed to $473,470.
Porter says the natural next step for Hard Spun is the synthetic track at Keeneland on April 14. That will put Hard Spun directly in the path of a second duel between Street Sense, the Derby's leading contender, and Any Given Saturday, who gave mighty challenge in the pair's March 17 Tampa Bay Derby battle.
All three colts are entered in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. l). Also in the mix for the Blue Grass, a final Derby prep, is Great Hunter. This quartet of thoroughbreds should provide an entertaining race day, and a major Derby shake-up.
Trainer Jones says Hard Spun will do anything asked of him. Porter said the bay wants to run away with a race that lacks speed, and jockey Pino has a difficult time holding him in during such circumstances. If there is early speed, Porter says, the colt will relax and stalk.
Although Pino prefers to jump to the lead with Hard Spun, his 10 post position in the Lane's End didn't favor that strategy. But the overall plan for the race went perfectly, Porter claimed.
Content with Polytrack Under his Hooves
Happy on the Polytrack, Hard Spun swooped the leaders three wide at the far turn with Pino asking lightly. When Pino ratcheted his request in the lane, Hard Spun surged again and easily drew off.
Jones, who expressed the opinion that good jockeys don't need instructions, said he was content to let Pino and Hard Spun work out the details as the race unfolded. Pino said he had motor to spare at the outset and only needed to decide when to ask Hard Spun to kick in the afterburners.
Describing the bay colt as coachable, Jones said his concern for the upcoming Blue Grass run is the number of good horses entered. Saying he wouldn't be over confident about Hard Spun's chances at Keeneland, Jones admitted to good feelings about knowing his bay charge is capable of competing.
Hard Spun is the product of Turkish Tryst, by Turkoman. He was bred by Michael Moran and Brushwood Stable.
Blue Grass will Test Top Colts
It should be a highly competitive Blue Grass Stakes in April. With Street Sense and Any Given Saturday taking another shot at each other, and Great Hunter, who beat Street Sense in 2006, and Hard Spun on their games, a barn burner finish could develop.
Anything goes, any given Saturday, in the Derby preps.
