OCEANPORT, N.J. -- The Haskell Invitational has been kind to
tough-luck Kentucky Derby losers recently. Good thing, too, because
Hard Spun could use a little good fortune in seeking his first
victory in more than four months.
After finishing second in the Derby, third in the Preakness and
fourth in the Belmont Stakes, Hard Spun was taken home to Delaware
Park to prepare for the summer season.
The leggy bay colt is back, and trainer Larry Jones can only
hope the Derby-loser, Haskell-winner trend continues: Three of the
past four Derby losers have gone on to capture the Haskell -- Derby
runner-ups Bluegrass Cat last year and Lion Heart in '04, and
third-place Derby finisher Peace Rules in 2003.
"The time off has been good," Jones said. "He came through
the Triple Crown races well, but I was glad that we got to the
point we could give him a little break. He's doing well."
Hard Spun won't have to face Derby winner Street Sense in
Sunday's 1 1-8-mile Haskell, but he will meet up again with
Preakness winner Curlin, the even-money favorite in a strong field
of eight 3-year-olds.
Curlin and Hard Spun, the 5-2 second choice, were the only
horses to run in all three Triple Crown races -- Curlin was third in
the Derby and second in the Belmont behind the filly Rags to
Riches.
"We really feel good about the timing of this race," owner
Rick Porter said Friday. "He's in good form, very similar to when
he came into the Derby. I hope we can do in the Haskell what
Bluegrass Cat and Lion Heart did. The horse could use a win."
Hard Spun put in a doozy of a final tuneup Thursday, working
three furlongs at Delaware in an eye-catching 34 seconds. Before
the Derby, the colt blazed five furlongs in 57.60 seconds.
Jockey Mario Pino returns to ride Hard Spun after being replaced
by Garrett Gomez for the Belmont. In the Preakness, Pino was
criticized for moving too early, and Porter changed riders even
though Pino had been aboard for all eight of Hard Spun's previous
races.
In the Belmont, Hard Spun was not in his usual spot on the lead
and was never a threat in finishing 11 lengths back in fourth
place.
Porter said he made a mistake.
"I overreacted. I should have stayed with Mario," Porter said.
"And we paid the price dearly. We have a lot of confidence in
Mario, but I felt I needed to make a change. We're happy he's
back."
Hard Spun has won five of nine races and earned more than $1
million, but his last win was March 24 in the Lane's End at Turfway
Park on Polytrack. The colt's last victory on a dirt track was Jan.
13 in the LeComte Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.
Curlin returns after a second-place finish in the Belmont, when
Rags to Riches held off the big chestnut colt's challenge in the
final strides and won by a head. The son of Smart Strike, trained
by Steve Asmussen, has won four of six starts and earned $1.8
million for his owners, Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables, Padua
Stables, George Bolton and Midnight Cry Stables.
Also entered in the $1 million race are Any Given Saturday
(3-1), unbeaten local favorite Cable Boy (8-1), Stormello (15-1),
Xchanger (20-1), Imawildandcrazyguy (30-1) and Reata's Shadow
(50-1).
Any Given Saturday is coming off a four-length win in the Dwyer
at Belmont on July 4. He was eighth in the Derby. Trainer Todd
Pletcher believes his colt might be ready to step up and win his
first Grade 1 race.
"He's gained weight, become stronger and he's very focused in
his training," Pletcher said. "I thought the Dwyer was a
breakthrough performance for him."
Stormello and Imawildandcrazyguy also spent time on the Triple
Crown trail. Stormello, expected to set the pace along with Hard
Spun and Cable Boy, was 19th in the Derby. He ran third in the
Woody Stephens at Belmont on June 9.
Imawildandcrazyguy, who finished strong to get fourth in the
Derby and sixth in the Belmont, was a winner his last time out,
taking an allowance race by 3} lengths at Calder in Miami.
^FINISH LINES:@ Asmussen also trains the favorite for Saturday's
$750,000 West Virginia Derby in Zanjero (3-1), second in the
Northern Dancer at Churchill Downs on June 16. Zanjero was 12th in
the Kentucky Derby. Also in the 10-horse field are Dominican (4-1),
who beat Derby winner Street Sense in the Blue Grass Stakes, Ohio
Derby winner Delightful Kiss and Lone Star Derby winner Slew's
Tizzy.