Hard Spun danced all the dances in this year's Triple Crown, finishing second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands(G1), third in the Preakness Stakes (G1), and fourth in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
The Danzig colt is one of those horses who doesn't need to take his track with him, he followed his competitive bids at the Triple Crown venues with a second to Any Given Saturday at Monmouth Park in the August 5 Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1), then shipped to Saratoga Race Course where he won the King's Bishop Stakes (G1) on August 25.
He also owns stakes wins at Fair Grounds, Delaware Park, and Philadelphia Park.
Trainer Larry Jones decided on the Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (G2) on September 29 at Turfway Park as Hard Spun's final prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1).
Hard Spun was no stranger to Turfway having won the Lane's End Stakes (G2) there prior to the Kentucky Derby.
Jones and owner Rick Porter had considered the Goodwood Stakes (G1) at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, also scheduled for September 29, before deciding on the Kentucky Cup.
"[The Goodwood] is a Grade 1, but you have to fly all the way across the country," Porter said. "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."
On September 22 trainer Carl Nafzger made the Kentucky Cup something less than easy when he entered Street Sense and the fans got the Kentucky Derby rematch they had been hoping for.
But this time the results were different as Hard Spun slowed the pace down early and never let Street Sense get past en route to a 1 1/4-length victory.
"Going in we knew it was going to be a match race because it was only a two horse race on paper," winning jockey Mario Pino said. "I got him to relax and I felt him crawling along early. At the 3/8ths pole he dropped his head down, going faster and faster to the wire."
The Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) is next on the agenda for Hard Spun, who will no doubt find Street Sense as well as Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Curlin lying in wait.
"He heard about this match race and was ready to get it on," trainer Larry Jones said. "This was a very good [Breeders' Cup] prep. He ran so well off of Polytrack last time, so this should set him up perfectly."
October 22 - Five furlongs breezing in 1:00.20 at Delaware Park, track fast. Second best of 13 workouts at the distance.
"He couldn't be doing any better," trainer Larry Jones said after the October 22 workout. "He's training better now than he ever has."
October 15 - Five furlongs breezing in 1:00.40 at Delaware Park, track fast. Best of five workouts at the distance.
Trainer Larry Jones, after Hard Spun won the Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (G2):
"I want to thank Mr. Nafzger [trainer of Street Sense]. 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. Actually, we owe Carl one. Actually we still owe him, but I don't know if he's keeping score."