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Hardest Core caps Cinderella story with victory in
Arlington Million
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| Hardest Core has gone from fighting for his life to
booking a spot in the BC Turf
(Four Footed Fotos) |
In the week leading up to
Arlington Million
XXXII, Andrew Bentley Stables' Hardest Core had garnered plenty of attention
for his
amazing biography that reads more like fiction than fact. But as the
Grade 1, $1 million race unfolded, it appeared that his Cinderella story had
legs -- literally. Traveling conspicuously best of all perched just behind 9-5
favorite Magician on the far turn, he mowed down the reigning
Breeders' Cup Turf
champion and booked his own passage to Santa Anita for his unheralded
connections."Words can't explain what a great feeling this is," enthused trainer Eddie
Graham, who oversees a tiny string in Pennsylvania. "He's gone through a lot…had
to cut 18 inches of intestines at one point (during his gelding operation) and
didn't know if he'd make it."
Jockey Eriluis Vaz was overjoyed after his first-ever Million ride.
"He's good horse, he's a nice horse, and I knew he was going to make his
run," Vaz said of the 11-1 second longest shot on the board. "I have to thank
the owner and trainer, they have been so supportive, and it's amazing."
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Hardest Core almost didn't even contest the Million, considering the other
options on the table this weekend.
"I looked at the Sword Dancer (at Saratoga Sunday), looked at the (American
St.) Leger (to which he was cross-entered on the Million undercard)," Graham
noted. "All three races were tough, but thought a shorter field would be better
and the horse was training so well. He didn't know what he was going against,
but he showed it today."
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| Hardest Core was bought as a potential steeplechaser, but has since prospered on the Flat
(Four Footed Fotos) |
Purchased as a steeplechase prospect for $210,000 at Keeneland last November,
the son of Hard Spun recovered from his life-threatening complication to win
both of his starts for his new connections in the Mid-Atlantic this season. He
launched his comeback in a June 28 allowance at Parx, where he scored by an
emphatic three lengths, and he was just as convincing in the July 12 Cape
Henlopen over 1 1/2 miles at Delaware Park. The cutback in trip, and sharp rise
in class, for the 1 1/4-mile Million might have been called audacious, until the
big four-year-old took it all in his ground-devouring stride.Globetrotter Side Glance, last year's third-place finisher in the Million,
made good on his promise to set the pace. Heading the forwardly-placed Magician
through an opening quarter in :25, Side Glance glided clear as he proceeded
through fractions of :49 2/5 and 1:13 3/5. Magician appeared perfectly settled
in second, with Joseph O'Brien logically confident that he had the leader's
measure.
Defending Million champion Real Solution moved up into third at one stage,
but Hardest Core was smoothly improving his position on his own. When Magician
was latched onto Side Glance at the mile mark in 1:37 3/5, Hardest Core was
simply cruising in third, leaving Real Solution, Up With the Birds, Smoking Sun
and Finnegans Wake all toiling.
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No less surprisingly, Magician himself was under the whip swinging for home.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained favorite made hard work of getting past Side Glance,
and finally subdued the front runner in midstretch.
Then Hardest Core was set down in earnest, and Magician was powerless to
resist. The sentimental story became reality as Hardest Core drove to a
one-length decision in a final time of 2:01 2/5 on the firm course.
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| Hardest Core topples 9-5 favorite Magician from the Aidan O'Brien yard
(Four Footed Fotos) |
Magician was beaten fair and square on the day, his rider observed."I had a nice position on the rail," Joseph O'Brien said. "I had a good trip,
no excuses. He might have been better at 12 furlongs, but he ran a good race."
Side Glance garnered third for the second straight year.
"He's an older horse but he's showing all the enthusiasm of a young horse,"
jockey Jamie Spencer said of the seven-year-old Side Glance. "He tried very hard
in the straight. He likes to get out striding. He likes to take the race to the
other horses. We thought Magician would be hard to beat, but someone came and
beat both of us."
Up With the Birds
reported home a further 2 3/4 lengths back in fourth, trailed by Finnegans Wake,
Smoking Sun and Real Solution.
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"(Up With the Birds) was good for me settling into the second turn," jockey
Eurico Rosa da Silva said, "but they accelerated, and I tried to keep up, but
they were running away from me, and by the time we straightened away and found
our best stride they were gone."
"(Finnegans Wake) ran well -- it was a tough race," said Ryan Moore, who had
previously turned a Grade 1 double with Adelaide in the Secretariat and Euro
Charline in the Beverly D. "He tried hard but I was always struggling to hold my
position."
"No excuse today," jockey Stephane Pasquier said of Smoking Sun. "We were too
far behind. He showed nothing, and I don't know why."
Alan Cooper, racing manager for the Niarchos Family, had a further update on
Smoking Sun.
"He was unsuited by the slow early pace and lost a right front shoe," Cooper
said.
Javier Castellano could offer no reason for Real Solution's effort.
"I had a beautiful trip -- unfortunately he didn't show up today," his rider
said.
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| Jockey Eriluis Vaz exults in
by far his biggest career win
(Four Footed Fotos) |
Hardest Core, who fueled a $25 win mutuel, boosted his bankroll to $842,580
from his 11-6-2-0 line. Bred by Mueller Farms in Kentucky, the dark bay is an
auction veteran. He RNA'd twice as a yearling at
Keeneland, failing to
reach his reserve for $70,000 in January and $60,000 in September. Hardest Core
sold for $87,000 one month later at
Fasig-Tipton Kentucky
October.
Originally trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Hardest Core debuted in the same
Gulfstream Park maiden on January 1, 2013, that marked the sensational premiere
of Verrazano. Hardest Core was only 10th that day in a dirt sprint, and he has
kept to turf routes ever since. He broke his maiden going 1 1/4 miles at
Belmont, and two starts later, cleared his entry-level allowance condition over
1 3/16 miles at Saratoga. A near-miss second in his first stakes test in the
Stroll, also at the Spa last summer, Hardest Core concluded his productive
sophomore campaign with a narrow verdict back at Belmont in October. He was
subsequently sold, and the rest is history -- or a fairy tale.
Hardest Core was produced by the winning Lillybuster. His half-sister,
multiple stakes-placed Calla Lily, produced Grade 2-placed turf marathoner Side
Road. Lillybuster is a Housebuster half-sister to Gilded Time, the unbeaten champion
two-year-old colt of 1992. Hardest Core's third dam, the *Princequillo mare Luquillo,
produced 1970 Belmont Stakes winner High Echelon.
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