NEWS
Hard Spun turns tables on Street Sense in Derby rematch
Posted: Saturday, September 29, 2007 7:31 PM
HARD SPUN (red cap) DEFEATING STREET SENSE IN THE KENTUCKY CUP CLASSIC STAKES
Photo by Z/GKC
by Mike Curry
Sequels often struggle to live up to the original, but Saturday’s highly anticipated rematch of the top two finishers in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) delivered a compelling stretch showdown.
Derby winner Street Sense and runner-up Hard Spun faced off for the third time in the Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (G2) at Turfway Park and this time Hard Spun turned the tables on his familiar foe.
Trained by Larry Jones for owner Rick Porter, the Danzig colt responded willingly when Street Sense surged forward on his outside flank in the stretch and gradually powered away to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths under jockey Mario Pino.
“He heard about this match race and was ready to get it on,” Jones said about Hard Spun. “This was a very good [Breeders’ Cup] prep. He ran so well off of Polytrack last time, so this should set him up perfectly.”
Street Sense previously defeated Hard Spun in both the Derby and in the Preakness Stakes (G1), in which Street Sense finished second and Hard Spun was third behind winner Curlin.
Hard Spun set an easy pace as the 9-to-10 second choice in the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Cup Classic with 4-to-5 favorite Street Sense stalking from second in the four-horse field.
After a half-mile in :48.18 and six furlongs in 1:11.46, Pino asked Hard Spun to quicken and he drew clear approaching the stretch. Street Sense uncoiled his best stride in the lane and surged forward to set up the anticipated duel.
Hard Spun battled gamely when challenged by Street Sense and gradually shook free to win in 1:48.48 and earn his second straight victory. He entered off his first career Grade 1 victory in the King’s Bishop Stakes (G1) on August 25 at Saratoga Race Course.
Hard Spun improved to seven wins in 12 career starts and boosted his earnings to $1,673,470. He is unbeaten in two starts on Turfway’s all-weather Polytrack surface.
Bred in Pennsylvania by Michael Moran and Betty Moran’s Brushwood Stable, Hard Spun is out of Grade 2-placed stakes winner Turkish Tryst, by Turkoman.
After a championship juvenile campaign capped by a ten-length romp in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Street Sense has amassed four wins and three seconds and earnings of $2,950,000 in seven starts this season. In addition to the Derby, the Street Cry (Ire) colt also has won the Travers (G1) and Jim Dandy (G2) Stakes and the Tampa Bay Derby (G3).
Trained by Carl Nafzger for owner Jim Tafel, Street Sense is winless in three starts on an all-weather track.
“We were right there and we got beat,” Nafzger said. “We came up here to win the race. Let’s not make excuses. That’s horse racing.
“I think it was a great run. We ran a good race. We’re ready to go on. It was up to him at the head of the lane to get by Hard Spun. I thought he could do it. But, it was hard to get by anyone all day. He just outran us.”
Both Hard Spun and Street Sense are expected to contest the Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) on October 27 at Monmouth Park.
“I want to thank Mr. Nafzger,” Jones said. “I watched what he did with Unbridled, giving him a start on the turf before the Classic and it worked. I just wish we didn’t have to beat him today.”
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor
