Grade 1 star HARD SPUN (Danzig), whose first overall winner struck in England
on May 7, celebrated his initial American-based winner when Yvete Sangalo (Mex)
made a remarkable recovery in Friday night’s 3RD race at Lone Star Park.
After falling to her face at the break, the 8-1 chance regrouped at the rear
and eventually worked her way into contention down the stretch. Despite jockey
Chris Landeros’ losing the whip, Yvete Sangalo got up by a neck in a rousing
three-way photo. The Kari Craddock trainee completed five furlongs in 1:00 3/5
on the fast track.
Hard Spun’s prior winner, Mabroor, had defeated the well-regarded Brocklebank
(Diamond Green [Fr]) at Haydock. Brocklebank came back to score smartly at York
on May 21, prompting the Highclere Syndicate to purchase a majority interest in
him, and simultaneously flattering the form of Mabroor.
Hard Spun was undefeated as a juvenile himself, winning his three starts by a
combined 21 1/2 lengths. The Larry Jones pupil was a smashing winner of the Port
Penn S. and Pennsylvania Nursery S. that season, and in his three-year-old
debut, he dominated the Lecomte S. (G3) by 6 1/2 lengths to extend his mark to
four-for-four. The rugged bay suffered his first loss when fourth in the
Southwest S. (G3), but bounced back to claim the Lane’s End S. (G2) handily.
A valiant runner-up in the Kentucky Derby (G1) when attempting to go wire to
wire, Hard Spun went on to finish third in the Preakness S. (G1) and fourth in
the Belmont S. (G1). His Triple Crown exertions didn’t take a toll on the rest
of his campaign, for he never placed worse than second in his remaining starts,
beginning with a runner-up effort in the Haskell Invitational (G1).
Hard Spun successfully cut back to seven furlongs for the King’s Bishop S.
(G1), where he argued a torrid pace before pulling away in deep stretch. Back up
in trip to 1 1/8 miles, he gained revenge on Derby hero Street Sense in the
Kentucky Cup Classic (G2). Hard Spun tried to lead throughout in his finale in
the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), but checked in a commendable second to Curlin,
and retired with a mark of 13-7-3-1, $2,673,470.
Out of the Grade 2-placed stakes winner Turkish Tryst (Turkoman), Hard Spun
comes from the family of champion and dual classic star Little Current
(*Sea-Bird), multiple Grade 1 heroine and group/graded stakes producer Prayers’n
Promises (Foolish Pleasure); champion and dual classic victor Chateaugay (Swaps)
and his champion full sister Primonetta, the Broodmare of the Year in 1978.
The seven-year-old Hard Spun stands at Darley near Lexington, Kentucky, for
$30,000, stands and nurses.