Why are Hard Spun's Connections so stubborn?
 

While I think there is a good chance Hard Spun can hold off Street Sense in the KCC at Turfway, why do his connections insist on running him at 1 1/4 miles in the BCC? He's not going to win, and I love Hard Spun. Wouldn't it make him more valuable as a stallion if he goes on the grass and takes the BCM? I mean, he did finish second in the Derby, so he's already proven he can carry his speed, even though he didn't win. If he takes to the grass and takes the Mile, after winning the King's Bishop, doesn't that make him a very unique breeding prospect?

He's very well bred for grass and a number of people I respect think he has a lot of physical things going for him in terms of handling the turf. I can't disagree that his chances in the Mile are better than they are in the Classic.

I wonder if Godolphin has anything to do with whatever decision they make.

First off, he's by Danzig so it's quite likely the grass would be to his liking. Second, Larry Jones has said he likes it when they work him over it. Third, they wouldn't have to run him in the Mile as his first try on the grass. They could've run him in the Kelso at Belmont (too late now as the noms are in) on the same day as the KCC, and if he showed that it wasn't for him, they can make plans from there. What is the difference running him a mile on the grass as a prep for the BCC or a 1 1/8 miles on the poly as a prep for the BCC if the grass didn't work out? I just don't think 1 1/4 miles is his game.

Shakespeare would crush him in the Mile.

I really think he'd be great on the turf also, too bad we'll probably never see it. I guess the thinking is that if they are going to take one last shot why not go for it all. I know Godolphin had a clause when they bought the breeding rights to Hard Spun that his connections would get a hefty bonus if they could get him a G1 win by the end of the year. There may be another lucrative bonus if he were to win the BC Classic which would give them even more incentive to take a shot. So Godolphin may be indirectly pointing them in that direction.

The BCM would be a great spot for him I agree. So would the dirt mile or the sprint. I seriously think he has the speed to win at 6f as well. I don't think the King's Bishop was a fluke. But overall I agree that we've seen time and time again that he can't stay for 1 1/4. He's still a freak, so I agree, place him somewhere else.

Well, one could argue that he is a rabbit for Street Sense in the Classic, at least for Godolphin's best interests, and if Lawyer Ron continues his dominance outside of Saratoga in the Jockey Club then Hard Spun's presense may be needed. Who knows what speed types are now pointing to the Classic due to the new Mile ( and 70 ) race.

Is this Andy or Indian Charlie?

Why in a billion years would they run him in an ungraded stakes race?

What's that supposed to mean?

Indian Charlie wrote the same thing on his sheet on Monday about Hard Spun being a rabbit for Street Sense in the KCC. NO offense intended.

Larry Jones told me that his initial thought on HS was that he'd make a great grass miler. He is by Danzig and had breeding rights not been sold, he (Jones) would likely have run him on grass already.

I miss Indian Charlie's assaults on me. It was the highest form of flattery.

I think, once again, you have to ask yourself if you think Godolphin has any say about which race he chooses. Certainly they would be against the ungraded Mile ( and 70 ). But, from an owner's perspective, you may well be right that is the race he has the most equity in.

The winner's share after trainer and jockey's cut is less than a half a mill. What does that really do for Porter and Godolphin in the grand scheme of things, especially if Porter is promised some kind of incentives for winning graded races?

I only noticed him insulting some Andy Sterling guy.

Yeah, that poor innocent guy keeps getting his name dragged through the mud because of me.

Please point out where in my original post I stated that I was "pretty sure he could win the Mile"?


I simply ask that IF he won the Mile as opposed to placing in the Classic wouldn't that make him unique? What good does it do for him to run 2nd, 3rd or even worse in another mile and a quarter race. He's already done that, multiple times.

He has?

i think they should transfer hard spun to ron ellis and run him in the bc juvie.

Well he ran 2nd in the Derby at a mile and a quarter and 3rd in the Preakness at a mile and three-sixteeths. Just for kicks, he ran 4th in the Belmont at a mile and a half. No?

Is there any chance they would put him in the Sprint?

Okay, no problem. Let's put it this way, as a Hard Spun fan who probably thinks more of him than most, I think he has a better shot at winning the Mile than the Classic, because sadly I don't feel he has much of a shot of winning the Classic.

Won't Monmouth favor Hard Spun's racing style more so than any other track he has raced on?...and won't it tend to dis-favor Street Sense?

It didn't look to help him in the Haskell as AGS blew right by, at a 1 1/8th.

True very true..and I was extremely happy as I bet AGS that day..as I recall HS bobbled start a bit..on BC day I would tell Pino to send send send and see what happens...

I like the horse also but think he is up against it in either race. frankly at Monmouth I'd give him a better chance of pulling off the classic than I would seeing him make his turf debut and win the mile.

even though I think he might be best at 8 or 9 furlongs, I kinda agree with what DrugS has said before and that is that his best shot is to just put him on dirt in the classic and send him out there, use his speed and make everyone work out trips and come get him.

Larry was on ATR yesterday...unless I missed something it sounded like he was 100% heading to the Classic ...

agree with the comment that says send him and make the other figure out how to beat him...his speed is his best asset and the Kings Bishop proved his gameness..

Everyone is an arm chair trainer
 

I remember when everyone was crying about HS pre derby work.
He might beat all the 3yos in the BC Classic.


We should send him to Pletcher and Allday, and create a turf god in Sunriver's image.


The big guy is about to retire. You need to develop form to win a grass race. The mile70yards is beneath him. The sprint is too quick. Yes he would be better in The Classic as a 4yo, but this is Hard Spun's last run. No time for that.

While u recall Peace Rules and Favorite Trick, I think about Prized and War Chant. Prized won the BC Turf in his first start on the grass and War Chant won the BC Mile in his second start on grass, after having won the Oak Tree Mile in his grass debut. What about Lure? I am not sure but I think he made his grass debut in the Kelso (2nd) and then won the BC Mile. My point is that if a horse has the talent to do something, it won't matter if it's his first, second, or 20th time on the surface. If the distance of the Mile is his best distance, go for it. I can see him taking the same kind of tactics as Lure and wiring them.

If, however, the choice is between the Sprint, Dirt Mile or Classic, I'd go in the Classic. I agree that his best performance and best chance for a placing will come by jumping out there and making the others adjust to him. The others could make the assumption that he can't last and let Hard Spun coast on the lead just long enough to get brave enough to hold on. I don't think he's got the speed necessary to run with the best sprinters in the world early and I think it would be tougher holding off the best closers in a sprint than it was holding out First Defence.