Another big effort from Hard Spun

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I remember the big fuss that was made in Europe when they watched supposed superhorse Fusaichi Pegasus, win the Kentucky Derby as the favorite, while having an easy time of it weaving through the pack....and having Wheelaway as a lead-blocker didn't hurt either.

I cashed on Fu Peg that day---and it's never easy to admit that the horse you bet on, that won, really wasn't the horse who ran the best race---and it's even harden when that horse was the favorite coming in.

Well, the European folks who made a fuss about Fu Peg's trip, and badmouthed the ability of American jockeys, are going to die laughing when they see the film of this race.

Hard Spun, who's last performance in the Southwest Stakes (when he was rated) was certainly the most underrated performance by a 3-year-old in any Derby prep, made the lead today and did so setting very lively fractions. The horses racing 2nd, 3rd, and 4th after a half mile, finished 17th, 19th, and 20th, all of them eased and practically walking by the time they crossed the wire.

Hard Spun, to his credit, was not giving much ground away to Street Sense in the final furlong. It would have been utterly impossible for Street Sense to have beaten him if he tried to circle the pack, and highly unlikely for him to have won if he had to weave his way in and out of the pack.

Hopefully the six week layoff going into the Derby today, and the big race he ran, won't be his undoing when he runs back in the Preakness, off of three times less rest.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I remember the big fuss that was made in Europe when they watched supposed superhorse Fusaichi Pegasus, win the Kentucky Derby as the favorite, while having an easy time of it weaving through the pack....and having Wheelaway as a lead-blocker didn't hurt either.

I cashed on Fu Peg that day---and it's never easy to admit that the horse you bet on, that won, really wasn't the horse who ran the best race---and it's even harden when that horse was the favorite coming in.

Well, the European folks who made a fuss about Fu Peg's trip, and badmouthed the ability of American jockeys, are going to die laughing when they see the film of this race.

Hard Spun, who's last performance in the Southwest Stakes (when he was rated) was certainly the most underrated performance by a 3-year-old in any Derby prep, made the lead today and did so setting very lively fractions. The horses racing 2nd, 3rd, and 4th after a half mile, finished 17th, 19th, and 20th, all of them eased and practically walking by the time they crossed the wire.

Hard Spun, to his credit, was not giving much ground away to Street Sense in the final furlong. It would have been utterly impossible for Street Sense to have beaten him if he tried to circle the pack, and highly unlikely for him to have won if he had to weave his way in and out of the pack.

Hopefully the six week layoff going into the Derby today, and the big race he ran, won't be his undoing when he runs back in the Preakness, off of three times less rest.

He ran very well and did not throw in the towel after getting passed.

[ArlJim78]

Its hard to overemphasize how strong of a performance Hard Spun put in today.

Its shaping up to look like we have at this point potentially three stars emerging from the group, and they finished 1-2-3 today.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

Its hard to overemphasize how strong of a performance Hard Spun put in today.

Its shaping up to look like we have at this point potentially three stars emerging from the group, and they finished 1-2-3 today.

I would be surprised if Hard Spun raced again. Not only was this race a gut wrencher, but given Porter's history, on the shelf he goes

[the_fat_man]

We can only hope he runs back in the Preakness.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Is it reasonable to expect a horse who had five weeks into this race, and a ran a lungbuster, to circle back in two weeks time and run just as well?

It is if he's a good horse.....and he sure ran like one today.

This mythical bounce stuff needs to stop.

[pointman]

Hard Spun ran a really good race today. Agree that the Derby answered many questions and there are three talented colts in this group. The Preakness will be very interesting, I think Curlin is just getting better and can be real tough.

[cmorioles]

Hard Spun had my best figure going into the race. My problem with him is he doesn't rate very well going long, and he did not once again yesterday. I don't see any reason to think he would do so in the Preakness either.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I thought he was well within himself on the lead.

If you go back and watch the Southwest Stakes--he rated wonderfully (albeit, while hung wide, back off a pathetically slow pace, while on an inside-speed track) that day.

I don't anticipate he'll have as much trouble rating off of Flying First Class as many think.

Hard Spun's mother was 4-for-15 lifetime, her average winning distance was BEYOND 10 furlongs---his father sired a Belmont winner. The distance question was never in doubt....he just couldn't fight off a horse who rated in 19th...and passed 16 horses on their inside by the time he confronted him.

[cmorioles]

You know I'm a numbers guy. Whether he looked relaxed or not, he was going too fast yesterday. Actually, the fact he looked relaxed is even a worse sign. It means he is going too fast all on his own.

I also don't have the Southwest that slow. It was a mile race, and I have it at 99 on the Beyer scale for the pace. That probably equates to a 110 at 1 1/4 miles, since the horses go slower. Given he was four wide, he was going even faster than that to keep up around the turns.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I think you might have cut something loose when you did your numbers for the Southwest---a bottom level claimer, at the same distance, earlier on in the card...who had never made the lead in his life...set faster fractions and went wire-to-wire.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I forgot---I think your pace figure is to the six furlong call in route races? I was thinking half mile.

Maybe they ran a supersonic third quarter in that race....that was when HS tried to make his move.