Hard Not to Like DQ’d for Endeavour-ing to hamper Testa Rossi

Hard Not to Like DQ’d for Endeavour-ing to hamper Testa
Rossi

Testa Rossi (left) had to take up abruptly when Hard Not to Like shifted paths (SV Photography) Purchased for $1.5 million at Keeneland last November, Hard Not to Like (Hard Spun) appeared to make a winning debut for new owner Speedway Stable and trainer Christophe Clement in Saturday’s $150,000 Endeavour S. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. But the Grade 1 veteran veered out sharply across the path of the hard-charging Testa Rossi (Dr Fong), forcing the 8-5 favorite to check in deep stretch, and she was accordingly disqualified. Testa Rossi, a 3 1/2-length winner of last spring’s Florida Oaks (G3) in her only prior Tampa appearance, had raced only twice since. Fourth in the Ashland (G1) over Keeneland’s Polytrack, the Chad Brown filly was not seen again until the November 15 Mrs. Revere (G2) at Churchill Downs, where she was a subpar seventh off the seven-month layoff. Hard Not to Like was last seen landing the April 12 Jenny Wiley (G1) at Keeneland. The 2-1 second choice in this comeback, the gray was well placed just off the early pace. Why Katherine (Whywhywhy) led narrowly through an opening quarter in :23 3/5 on the firm turf. After the prompting Naughty Holiday (Harlan’s Holiday) bore to the far outside on the backstretch and was pulled up, the 76-1 Lots o’ Lex (Kitalpha) took over and carved out fractions of :48 2/5 and 1:12 1/5. The longest shot on the board threatened to pull the upset when still in front in midstretch. Then Hard Not to Like asserted and forged ahead. Testa Rossi flashed on the outside, and Principessa Ava (Ad Valorem) gained ground on the inside. Testa Rossi lost valuable momentum when Hard Not to Like lurched starboard, and she came up three-quarters of a length shy. Hard Not to Like completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.

The inquiry sign lit up promptly. Testa Rossi’s jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., also
claimed foul against Johnny Velazquez on Hard Not to Like. The stewards agreed
that the favorite was the victim of interference. The promoted winner returned
$5.20.

“It seemed like she was rolling down the center of the stretch,” said Brown,
who watched the race from Gulfstream, “and I don’t have any doubt she would have
won if she hadn’t been impeded.”

“She took off and I thought we were going to win it big,” Ortiz said. “But
when we were bumped and carried out, she had to show how brave she is.

“Even after we got pushed out and off-stride, she put in another run.”

Hard Not to Like’s connections commented on the tough loss.

“She ducked out and we bumped the other filly,” Velazquez said. “When I got
her straightened out again, she found her stride and finished up like the winner
she really is.”

“Johnny said she jumped a shadow,” assistant trainer Christophe Lorieul said.
“He was sticking to a right-hand stick, but she came out. I don’t think it was
enough (for a disqualification), but the head-on showed Ortiz had to slow a
couple of strides. The winner never got to us, but it was probably too close to
the wire.”

Lots o’ Lex crossed the wire a neck behind Testa Rossi, with Principessa Ava
the same margin back in fourth. Next came Medea (Danehill Dancer), Maria Maria (Curlin),
I’m Already Sexy (Ready’s Image), Julie’s Love (Ad Valorem), Save the Park
(Divine Park) and Why Katherine. Naughty Holiday walked off the course. Brown’s
other runner, Rosalind (Broken Vow), was scratched in favor of awaiting next
Saturday’s Suwannee River (G3) at Gulfstream, and Rock on Baby (Rock Hard Ten)
and Tokyo Time (Medaglia d’Oro) were also withdrawn.

Campaigned by James Covello, Thomas Coleman and Doheny Racing Stable, Testa
Rossi advanced her record to 11-6-2-0, $562,800. The French-bred originally
raced in her homeland, winning her final three starts there as a juvenile before
coming stateside. She went last to first in the 2013 Miss Grillo (G3) in her
U.S. bow, and finished best of the rest behind the ill-fated Chriselliam in the
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

Testa Rossi was bred by Barbara Moser and RNA’d for $12,804 as a yearling at
Arqana November. The chestnut was produced by the winning Peggy Lane (Dancing
Spree).

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