I was thinking Hard Spun was very much like Lure.
Awesome "in your face" speed, by Danzig, precocious speed on the dirt at 2.... Hard Spun's maternal grandma, Chappaquiddick, threw his mom Endear who was a Grade 1 dirt winner...she also threw Tiller who won and competed in just about every important distance turf race on the east and west coasts. Chappaquiddick's dad, Relic, won French broodmare sire of the year in the mid 60s.
The makings are all there for Hard Spun to rage on the turf. I know the owners are pointing to the King's Bishop, which is a hellishly tough race on a horse. The Jamaica is 9f for $300k.... why not find out what you really have and ship for the G1 $1 million Woodbine Mile? Love to see him cruising on the lead with those wide, sweeping turns. Otherwise, skip the Jamaica, and run in the one mile Kelso like Lure.
bellsbendboy Wrote:
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> Could not agree more with your assessment of Hard
> Spun. Would add that his immediate family
> includes several champions including Little
> Current, Chateaugay and Primonetta. He has classic
> turf action and like his sire Danzig will probably
> never try turf.
>
> The fall, turf, Grade I's at Belmont are The Man O
> War at eleven panels and the Joe Hirsch at twelve,
> both for 3yo's and up. Darley bought the breeding
> rights and may want a graded win on turf. The
> logical spots would be the Jamaica, Grade II,
> restricted to 3yo's going nine furlongs October
> 6th, or perhaps a stab at the Shadwell at
> Keeneland the following week going a mile against
> serious competition.
>
> The latter spot may set him up for a spin in the
> Breeders Cup mile which would lead to comparisons
> of a very similar sophomore, 2000 Mile winner War
> Chant who is also by Danzig, also out of a
> stakeswinning mare whose maternal grandsire is
> Roberto. BBB
