Hard Spun and King of the Roxy

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

Hard Spun has done nothing wrong really, I am just sensing something strange here. Its just that they have guided him along and have been careful to avoid facing any of the top competitors. I mean looking at who he has raced against its not exactly a who's who of the division. I just cannot back a horse that has not rubbed shoulders with the better peers. In fact, is there any horse that he has faced that will actually line up in the derby?

I think that is the reason I can't back him.
There is a lot to like about this horse, and early on, I liked his Derby chances quite a bit. His win in the Lecomte was pretty impressive and the dam side of his pedigree is filled with horses that liked to go 10f and beyond (Turkoman, Roberto, Alydar).
But his Oaklawn race turned me off more than it did for most people. I know he was facing some tough circumstances that day, and he still ran a nice figure, but if he couldn't get by those horses he faced that day, then I don't like his chances against better. Who has he beaten?
He is a nice horse and I could see him having a nice year in lesser stakes races on both dirt and poly.
I just don't think he is a classic winner.