Hard Spun!!!

[Sightseek]

If he stays at Fair Grounds looks like he'll be tested against Circular Quay on the road to the Derby. Pletcher reported as saying he thought the longer stretch would be most beneficial to CQ's running style.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

If he stays at Fair Grounds looks like he'll be tested against Circular Quay on the road to the Derby. Pletcher reported as saying he thought the longer stretch would be most beneficial to CQ's running style.

Isn't Tabor a poly lover? Wouldn't surprise me to see the horse go to the Lane's End and the Blue Grass as his preps.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Isn't Tabor a poly lover? Wouldn't surprise me to see the horse go to the Lane's End and the Blue Grass as his preps.

Today's racing form...

[jpops757]

We all talk about top trainers . Larry Jones is always under the radar. I would like any of you name one horse he has trained that under performed. He always has his runners ready and seem to always do the right thing for his horses. These conection are a big plus mark.

[Samarta]

One thing I find interesting is that Jones shipped Hard Spun to Oaklawn for the Winter and is now indicating that he will take the Louisiana route and not the Arkansas route to the Derby. If that pans out, I wonder how the folks at Oaklawn will feel about the connections. Probably already a little strained to begin with.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Samarta

One thing I find interesting is that Jones shipped Hard Spun to Oaklawn for the Winter and is now indicating that he will take the Louisiana route and not the Arkansas route to the Derby. If that pans out, I wonder how the folks at Oaklawn will feel about the connections. Probably already a little strained to begin with.

yeah, i saw he mentioned the la derby....hope he changes his mind.

[The Bid]

Hes taking the right route. Why stay at Oaklawn and get your head chopped off by Westwon

[todko]

Visually impressive.

However the allowance types did the 1m40yds in 1:39+ -- Hard Spun was 1:37 and change for the mile. Nothing riveting but it's only January. Decent pace and ran out well.

The bigger concern is that he looks to be a "need the lead" type and that's unlikely to change by Derby.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by todko

Visually impressive.

However the allowance types did the 1m40yds in 1:39+ -- Hard Spun was 1:37 and change for the mile. Nothing riveting but it's only January. Decent pace and ran out well.

The bigger concern is that he looks to be a "need the lead" type and that's unlikely to change by Derby.

His Beyer came back somewhere in the 90 range.

I don't know about "needing the lead", nothing to me indicated that he was rank up there and he had a cool head about him. He's got a good way of going too, sort of glides across the ground.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Problem with the Lane's End is it's only 2 weeks before the Bluegrass and I doubt Pletcher wants to run him so close back to back. I expect we'll see him in the Risen Star, LA Derby and then the Bluegrass.

The Lane's End is 3/24 and the Blue Grass 4/14 so that gives three weeks in between which is certainly possible if they want to go that route. The Risen Star is going to be loaded if CQ shows up.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Yeah you're right. Who else is pointing for the Risen Star?

Hard Spun and a couple sleeper Derby horses I like in Grasshopper and Zanjero. I was thinking Makeithapencaptain too but after his effort yesterday he hardly improves the race if he goes.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I thought I read Hard Spun is being pointed towards the LA Derby, but I could be wrong. I like Zanjero as well, if he continues to improve he'll be a handful this year.

I think he may go in the Risen Star first but not sure. Any word on where Tiz Wonderful, Great Hunter, and Any Given Saturday are going this year? I know O'Neill said yesterday he was going to seperate Notional and Great Hunter so at least one should come east.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

I think he may go in the Risen Star first but not sure. Any word on where Tiz Wonderful, Great Hunter, and Any Given Saturday are going this year? I know O'Neill said yesterday he was going to seperate Notional and Great Hunter so at least one should come east.

I know that Tiz Wonderful is going the Oaklawn Route. I don't know about the other two.

[smartyalex]

From Oaklawn's web site:


HARD SPUN ROMPS TO LECOMTE VICTORY ON SATURDAY
Undefeated Hard Spun, stabled at Oaklawn, travelled to the Fair Grounds in New Orleans for Saturday's featured $100,000 Lecomte Stakes and drew clear to an easy victory in the one mile event for three-year-olds.

The early favorite for the Arkansas Derby took command from the outset in the Lecomte under jockey Mario Pino and maintained the lead by nearly a length all the way to the head of the stretch.

Jockey Pino then asked the even-money favorite to finish up well and the bay son of Danzig drew clear from the field for his convincing win. Izzie's Halo, twice stakes-placed for trainer Tom Amoss, outlasted the six rivals for he place spot, while Sugar Bowl Stakes winner Teuflesberg, the second chice at 7-2, had no punch in the stretch and finished a distant third.

Racing in the silks of Fox Hill Farm, owner of previous Oaklawn stars Rockport Harbor and Round Pond, Hard Spun was taking his career record to four wins from four starts and his earnings to $160,970. Trainer Larry Jones has indicated that the next stop on the Triple Crown trail for Hard Spun will be the $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn on Presidents' Day, Monday, February 19.

[smartyalex]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I think I got a workout notification for Tiz Wonderful at oaklawn so maybe he's going that route. I haven't heard anything about Any Given Saturday so maybe he's at Gulfstream. Great Hunter I have no idea.

5F Oaklawn
Tiz Wonderful 1/6/2007 Dirt GD B 1:07.00

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I think I got a workout notification for Tiz Wonderful at oaklawn so maybe he's going that route. I haven't heard anything about Any Given Saturday so maybe he's at Gulfstream. Great Hunter I have no idea.

Looks like Notional might be pointed to the Arkansas Derby and Great Hunter will stay west for the Robert Lewis (formerly Santa Catalina).

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Interesting, because Notional seems to really run well at Santa Anita.

Yeah, I kinda hope he fails anyways since I think that Mile was about his limit distance wise and he could be a very nice sprinter if not ruined in the Derby.