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The Best Horses In The World From A to Z
[A Breeders Cup Journal]
HARD SPUN
Hard Spun played a
supporting role to the stars Street Sense, Curlin, and Rags To Riches
during his 2007 Triple Crown campaign. He performed well, with a 2nd in
the Derby and a 3rd in the Preakness. He ran a respectable 4th in the
Belmont as a tired horse. Remember, Hard Spun won his first four races by
a combined 28 lengths, and he did it with brilliant speed. Now he is
fresh and his speed/stalking style is a perfect fit for Monmouth. Hard
Spun finished a strong second [always the bridesmaid] in the Grade 1
Haskell to Any Given Saturday and finished ahead of Curlin. This son of
Danzig has a chance to do very well in the Dirt Mile [and to a lesser
degree the Classic]. After dominating his first four races, Hard Spun
lost in the Southwest [Oaklawn Park] as the 1-to-2 favorite. He bounced
back to easily win the Lane's End (on Polytrack) at Turfway and, as we all
know, ran the race of his life to finish second to Street Sense in the
Kentucky Derby. Hard Spun came back down to earth in the Preakness, but
still ran a very respectable third under difficult circumstances. He had
little choice but to run into the teeth of a suicidal pace, and then had
to deal with the intimidating late moves of Curlin and Street Sense. Hard
Spun held on for a third place finish in the Preakness, beaten only 4 1/2
lengths, in perhaps the fastest Preakness in history. Hard Spun was ready
to try his luck in the Belmont Stakes. Hard Spun had to try and nurse his
brilliant speed for the entire 1 and 1/2 miles of the Belmont. There were
no speed bias or sharp turns to aid him, either. Hard Spun fought hard, as
he always does, but the filly Rags To Riches and Street Sense were too
much for him [Hard Spun ended up fourth behind Rags To Riches, Street
Sense and Tiago]. Hard Spun is sired by the top stallion Danzig, who died
in 2006 at the age of 29. Danzig sired 107 graded stakes winners in his
lifetime. The sire of Danzig is Northern Dancer, the 1964 Kentucky Derby
and Preakness winner. Northern Dancer was small for a champion, standing
at only 14 hands 2 1/2 inches, but he defeated his competitors with
brilliant speed and a big heart. About 75% of modern thoroughbreds can be
traced back to Northern Dancer. Northern Dancer, the sire of champions,
died in 1990. Turkish Tryst is Hard Spun's dam. Turkish Tryst , a
daughter of Turkoman, injects great stamina into the pedigree of Hard
Spun. Danzig is out of the mare Pas De Nom, primarily a pure speed
influence and this further restricts Hard Spun at the classic distances.
Pace is always a critical factor in determining Hard Spun's chances in a
graded stakes [longer than a mile]. Owner Rick Porter finalized a deal
that assigned the breeding rights of Hard Spun to Darley Stable, which
also obtained the rights to Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense.
Update
Hard Spun took on a pretty deep group of sprinters in the G1 King's Bishop
[Saratoga] and repelled the advances of First Defence to win [1:22.34]
over seven furlongs. It was Hard Spun's turn to win [and frankly he looks
like a better fit for the Breeders Cup Sprint or Dirt Mile than the
Classic].
Update
Hard Spun defeats Street Sense in the
Grade 2 Kentucky Cup Classic [Turfway Park] but it's not an important
preview of Breeders Cup. The Kentucky Cup is run over Polytrack [unlike
the Breeders Cup Classic] and the Turfway Polytrack is in a different
universe than the Monmouth Park conventional dirt surface. The Kentucky
Cup did showcase a very fit Hard Spun, though, and that is important.
Next stop Breeders Cup.
Breeders Cup Update
Watching the Breeders Cup Classic on TV, it looked eerily like the
Kentucky Derby. There was Hard Spun galloping along in in the mud,
drilling all the early fractions, out on the lead, looking formidable,
that is until Curlin spoiled the party. In the Derby it would be Street
Sense that surged past a game Hard Spun, but in the Classic it was
Curlin’s turn to shine, and boy did he. Hard Spun had a [2007] campaign
for the ages. Let’s run down the highlights. Kentucky Derby. Second.
Preakness Stakes: Third. Kentucky Cup Classic: First. Haskell
Invitational: Second. King’s Bishop: First. Breeders Cup Classic:
Second. In his career Hard Spun won seven of
13 races, earning $2.67 million for Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farms.
No more racing for this fellow, he’s going to the breeding shed. Darley
America has set a $50,000 stud fee for Hard Spun next year [2008].
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Here is a list of the horses included in “The
Best Horses In the World From A To Z [A Breeders Cup Journal].”
You can access your horses any time 24 hours-a-day online to get
ready for the biggest races next year.
A TO THE CROFT
ABLE ONE
ACCORDING TO PLAN
ACHILL ISLAND
ADMIRE MOON
AFRASHAD
AFTER MARKET
AH DAY
ALEXANDER TANGO
ALEXANDROS
ALL MY LOVING
ANNIE SKATES
ANY GIVEN SATURDAY
ANY LIMIT
ARGENTINA
ARI N JULIUS
ARMONK
ARRAVALE
ART MASTER
ARTISTE ROYAL
ASI ASI
ASI SIEMPRE
ASIATIC BOY
ASTRONOMER ROYAL
ASTRONOMIA
ATTILA'S STORM
AUSTINTATIOUS
AUTHORIZED
AWESOME GEM
BACKSEAT RHYTHM
BALANCE
BARONESS THATCHER
BEAR NOW
BENBAUN
BENNY THE BULL
BERESFORD
BESTOWED
BETTER TALK NOW
BIG BROWN
BIG TRUCK
BILO
BIT OF WHIMSY
BLACK MAMBA
BLITZING
BOCA GRANDE
BORDONARO
BRASS HAT
BRIARWOOD CIRCLE
BURMILLA
C P WEST
CABERNEIGH
CALICO BAY
CANNONBALL
CAPTAIN ROYALE
CHAMPS ELYSEES
CHATAIN
CHELOKEE
CHEROKEE TRIANGLE
CHRISTMAS KID
CIRCULAR QUAY
CITRONNADE
CLEARLY FOXY
CLOUDY'S KNIGHT
COBALT BLUE
COMMENTATOR
CORINTHIAN
COSMONAUT
COSTUME
COTTOM BLOSSOM
COWBOY CAL
CRACKALACKIN
CRIMINOLOGIST
CROSSING THE LINE
CRY AND CATCH ME
CURLIN
DAAHER
DAGGER
DANCE AWAY CAPOTE
DANZON
DARJINA
DIABOLICAL
DIAMOND STRIPES
DISCREET CAT
DIXIE CHATTER
DOCTOR DINO
DOMESTIC FUND
DR. NICK
DR. PLEASURE
DREAM RUSH
DREAMING OF ANNA
DREAMING OF LIZ
DRILL DOWN
DUKE OF MARMALADE
DUVEEN
DYLAN THOMAS
E Z'S GENTLEMAN
ECHELON
ECHO OF LIGHT
EINSTEIN
ELLETELLE
ENGLISH CHANNEL
ETCHED
ERMINE
ESSENTIAL EDGE
EVENING ATTIRE
EXCELLENT ART
FABULOUS STRIKE
FAIRBANKS
FANTASTIC SHIRL
FINANCINGAVAILABLE
FLASHY BULL
FOREFATHERS
FOXY DANSEUR
FRI GUY
G CITY GAL
GALANTAS
GENERAL JUMBO
GEORGE WASHINGTON
GEORGIE BOY
GINGER PUNCH
GIO PONTI
GLOBALIZATION
GLOBETROTTER
GOLD COYOTE
GOTTCHA GOLD
GRACE ANATOMY
GRAEME SIX
GRAND COUTURIER
GRASSHOPPER
GREG'S GOLD
HARD SPUN
HARVARD AVENUE
HENRYTHENAVIGATOR
HESANOLDSALT
HIGH FINANCE
HOLOCENE
HONEY RYDER
HORSE DOCTOR
HOST
HYSTERICALADY
I PROMISE
IBN KHALDUN
ICY ATLANTIC
IDIOT PROOF
IMAGINE
IN SUMMATION
INDEPENDENT GEORGE
INDIAN BLESSING
INDIAN FLARE
INDIAN VALE
IRISH SMOKE
IRRIDESCENCE
ISTAN
IZARRA
J Z WARRIOR
JAMBALAYA
JAZZY
JEREMY
JOFFE'S RUN
KANAN DUME
KELLY'S LANDING
KEYED ENTRY
KING OF THE ROXY
KINGSGATE NATIVE
KIP DEVILLE
KODIAK KOWBOY
LA TRAVIATA
LADY BELSARA
LADY JOANNE
LADY OF VENICE
LAHUDOOD
LANTANA MOB
LAVA MAN
LAW ENFORCEMENT
LAWYER RON
LEAR'S PRINCESS
LEONIDES
LEONNATUS ANTEAS
LEWIS MICHAEL
LICKETY LEMON
LINNGARI
LISTEN
LUCARNO
MACH RIDE
MAGNA GRADUATE
MAIMONIDES
MAJESTIC WARRIOR
MAKDERAH
MANDESHA
MANDURO
MARCAVELLY
MARY DELANEY
MARYFIELD
MASSEUSE
MAURALAKANA
MEDICI CODE
MERIBEL
MIDNIGHT LUTE
MIKIMOTO'S MOJO
MIRACULOUS MISS
MISS MACY SUE
MISS SHOP
MISSION APPROVED
MOLENGAO
MORAL COMPASS
MORE HAPPY
MOST DISTINGUISHED
MRS. LINDSAY
MY TYPHOON
MYBOYCHARLIE
MYTHICAL PEGASUS
NAMASTE'S WISH
NASHOBA'S KEY
NATAGORA
NEW APPROACH
NOBIZ LIKE SHOBIZ
NOTABLE GUEST
NOTIONAL
NOTNOWCATO
NOWNOWNOW
OBRIGADO
OCTAVE
OFF DUTY
OLD MAN BUCK
ON THE ACORN
OPRAH WINNEY
OUT OF CONTROL
OVEREXTENDED
PANTY RAID
PARK AVENUE BALL
PASSAGE OF TIME
PEEPING FAWN
PHANTOM INCOME
POLITICAL FORCE
PREACHIN MAN
PRECIOUS KITTEN
PRICE TAG
PROP ME UP
PROUD SPELL
PROVISO
PRUSSIAN
PURIM
PUSSYCAT DOLL
PYRO
RABATASH
RAGS TO RICHES
RAHIYAH
RAMONTI
RATED FIESTY
READY'S IMAGE
REBELLION
RED CLUBS
RED EVIE
RED GIANT
RED ROCKS
REMARKABLE NEWS
RILEY TUCKER
RIO DE LA PLATA
RIVER PROUD
RIVER'S PRAYER
ROSHANI
ROSINKA
ROUND HEELS
ROYAL HIGHNESS
RUTHERIENNE
SAFARI QUEEN
SALUTE THE SARGE
SAM P
SAOIRSE ABU
SCORPION
SEALY HILL
SECRET GYPSY
SET PLAY
SHAGGY MANE
SHAKESPEARE
SHAKIS
SHAMDINAN
SHARP SUSAN
SHE'S INDY MONEY
SHORE DO
SIGHTSEEING
SILENT NAME
SILK RIDGE
SILMARIL
SILVER WAGON
SIMPLY PERFECT
SKY CAPE
SKY CONQUEROR
SKY HIGH FLYER
SKY MOM
SLAM SLEW
SLEW'S TIZNOW
SLEW'S TIZZY
SMARTY DEB
SMOKEY STOVER
SOK SOK
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE
SOLO SURVIVOR
SPRING AWAKENING
STONESIDE
STREET SENSE
STRIKE THE DEAL
STUDENT COUNCIL
SUBTLE ALY
SUGAR SHAKE
SUGAR SWIRL
SUN BOAT
SUN KING
SUNRIVER
SURF CAT
SWAP FLIPAROO
SWEETNORTHERNSAINT
SYRIANA'S SONG
TAKE D TOUR
TALE OF EKATI
TALENT SEARCH
TALKIN ABOUT LOVE
TARIQ
TASHA'S MIRACLE
TEAMMATE
TEUFLESBERG
TEXAS FEVER
THE GREAT FACE
THE LEOPARD
THE ROUNDHOUSE
THE TIN MAN
TIAGO
TICKET TO SEATTLE
TIMARWA
TIZ WONDERFUL
TOUGH TIZ'S SIS
TRANSDUCTION GOLD
TRIPPI'S STORM
TURTLE BOWL
UNBRIDLED BELLE
VACARE
VALBENNY
VIVA PATACA
WAIT A WHILE
WANDERIN BOY
WAR PASS
WEST WIND
WHY TONTO
WICKED STYLE
WILD GAMS
WISE ANSWER
WORLDLY
XCHANGER
YEATS
YELLOWSTONE
YONAGUCCI
YOUR ROUND
Z HUMOR
ZAMBEZI SUN
ZANJERO
ZEE ZEE
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