Hard Spun earns first win over Street Sense in Kentucky Cup Classic

Hard Spun got the better of rival Street Sense at Turfway (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com) Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up HARD SPUN (Danzig) gained a measure of revenge when defeating Derby hero Street Sense (Street Cry [Ire]) in Saturday's $402,500 Kentucky Cup Classic (G2), easily holding the champion at bay through the stretch to record a 1 1/4-length decision. Sent immediately to the lead when the gates opened, the Larry Jones-trained colt led wire to wire over Turfway Park's Polytrack, finishing ahead of Street Sense for the first time in three meetings. With regular rider Mario Pino guiding the 4-5 second choice, Hard Spun established early splits of :24 2/5, :48 and 1:11 2/5 with Street Sense in close attendance. Street Sense made a run at the pacesetter in midstretch, but Hard Spun had plenty in reserve to repel the 4-5 favorite, completing 1 1/8 miles in 1:48 2/5. Calvin Borel wrapped up on Street Sense well before the wire when it became apparent that he couldn't catch the winner. "(Hard Spun) heard about this match race and was ready to get it on," Jones said. "This was a very good prep (for the Breeders' Cup Classic [G1]). He ran so well off of Polytrack last time, so this should set him up perfectly. I just wish we didn't have to beat (Street Sense's trainer Carl Nafzger) today. Actually, we owe Carl one. Actually, we still owe him, but I don't know if he's keeping score." Nafzger wasn't disappointed with the runner-up's effort. "We were right there and we got beat," the conditioner explained. "I think it was a great run. We're ready to go on." Calvin Borel, Street Sense's rider, echoed those sentiments.

"Don't worry, my horse will show up in four weeks," Borel said. "He always

struggles a bit on Polytrack, but that sets him up perfectly. I ain't worried

about it. In four weeks,

he'll be a different horse."

Street Sense, who was exiting a victory in the Travers S. (G1), is now

winless from three starts on Polytrack.

Hard Spun improved to two-for-two at Turfway, adding the Kentucky Cup Classic

to an impressive tally in the Lane's End S. (G2) prior to the Kentucky Derby,

and returned $3.80 and $2.10 to his backers. Street Sense yielded $2.10 for the

place. There was no show wagering in the four-horse field. The exacta paid $5.60

and the 1-3-4 trifecta, with the 6-1 Stream Cat (Black Minnaloushe) another 3

1/4 lengths back in third, was $6.80. Cat Shaker (Catienus) finished far back in

fourth. Muqbil (Swain [Ire]) was withdrawn.

Bred in Pennsylvania by Michael Moran and Brushwood Stable, Hard Spun races

in the colors of Fox Hill Farms and is the fifth registered foal out of the

stakes-winning Turkoman mare Turkish Tryst. The bay sophomore counts as a

half-sister stakes heroine Our Rite of Spring (Stravinsky). At the 2005

Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Hard Spun RNA'd for $485,000. He's earned

$1,673,470 from a 12-7-2-1 line.

Winner of the seven-furlong King's Bishop S. (G1) in his previous start, Hard

Spun has also captured this year's Lecomte S. (G3) and the 2006 runnings of the

Pennsylvania Nursery S. and Port Penn S. He finished second in the Haskell

Invitational S. (G1) and third in the Preakness (G1).

The top two finishers will meet for a fourth time in the October 27 Breeders'

Cup Classic at Monmouth Park.