by Jeff Lowe

King’s Bishop Stakes (G1) winner Hard Spun probably will head back to Turfway Park for the Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (G2) on September 29 as a final prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1).

Hard Spun won the Lane’s End Stakes (G2) at Turfway on March 24 in his last start before a second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).

The Danzig colt thrived while cutting back to seven furlongs in the King’s Bishop, repelling a late bid from First Defence to notch his first Grade 1 victory. 

Trainer Larry Jones and owner Rick Porter chose the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Cup over the Goodwood Stakes (G1) on the same day at Santa Anita Park.

“[The Goodwood] is a Grade 1, but you have to fly all the way across the country,” Porter said on Monday. “We know he likes the track at Turfway. We’re looking for a nice, easy race around a mile-and-an-eighth to get him ready for the Breeders’ Cup.”

Porter said he would not necessarily have second thoughts if Travers Stakes (G1) winner Street Sense also ends up in the Kentucky Cup.

Trainer Carl Nafzger mentioned the Turfway race as one of several possible targets for Street Sense’s final Classic prep, along with the Super Derby Powered by Youbet.com (G2) and Massachusetts Handicap on September 22 and Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (G2) on September 29.

“We all would like to hook Street Sense, but we’d rather do it at the Breeders’ Cup,” Porter said. “If he comes [to Turfway], I don’t know where else we would go. I guess we’d just have to do battle with him there.”

Darley purchased the breeding rights to both Street Sense and Hard Spun after they finished first and second, respectively, in the Kentucky Derby.

Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer