Hard Spun to stay at Oaklawn for Southwest

Undefeated Lecomte S. (G3) winner HARD SPUN  (Danzig) will make

his next start in the $250,000 Southwest S. on February 19 at Oaklawn Park.

"We'll keep Hard Spun here at Oaklawn Park for the Southwest," trainer Larry

Jones said Sunday.

Hard Spun romped to a 6 1/2-length victory in the Lecomte on January 13 at

Fair Grounds. His connections had been considering shipping the colt back to

Fair Grounds for the $300,000 Risen Star S. (G3) on February 10, but after

weighing all the options, decided to point Hard Spun toward the Southwest.

Hard Spun breezed three furlongs in :36 4/5 at Oaklawn Park on Sunday. It was

his first breeze since winning the Lecomte and the fourth fastest of 17 workouts

at the distance.

"Hard Spun had been coughing during the week, so it was great to see that he

didn't cough at all during the work," Jones said. "I couldn't be happier with

his move. He finished up well and galloped out nicely. Everything went perfect."

Hard Spun closed out his juvenile campaign with daylight victories in the

Port Penn S. at Delaware Park and the Pennsylvania Nursery S. at Philadelphia

Park. In four starts, the bay colt has earned $160,970.

Grade 1-placed PEGASUS WIND (Fusaichi Pegasus), who finished seventh as the

3-10 favorite against allowance/optional claiming foes in his three-year-old

debut at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, remains on schedule for the Southwest,

according to trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

"Pegasus Wind struggled with the going all the way, but he came out of the

race well," Lukas said. "You'll just have to draw a line through that one. The

racetrack was a little slick on top, and he didn't like it."

Pegasus Wind finished a distant 11th of 14 in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1)

after challenging for the lead at the top of the stretch. In his previous start,

he finished a close third to Scat Daddy (Johannesburg) and Nobiz Like Shobiz

(Albert the Great) in the Champagne S. (G1) at Belmont Park.