Three-year-old Diary

THREE-YEAR-OLD DIARY

MARCH 28, 2007

by James Scully

HARD SPUN (Danzig) rebounded from his first defeat to impressively capture

the Lane's End S. (G2) at Turfway Park, taking the 1 1/8-mile event by 3 1/4

lengths under Mario Pino. Breaking alertly from post 10, the Larry Jones-trained

colt raced close to the pace, tracking splits of :22 3/5, :47 1/5 and 1:11 3/5

before sweeping to the lead on the far turn with a powerful turn of foot. He

entered the stretch with a widening advantage and looked good all the way to the

wire, posting an excellent 106 BRIS Speed rating for his second graded victory

of the year.

Now five-for-six in his career, Hard Spun opened his sophomore campaign with

a 6 1/2-length triumph in the one-mile Lecomte S. (G3) at Fair Grounds but didn't sustain that

form next out in the Southwest S. at Oaklawn Park, traveling wide on both turns

before flattening out in the stretch to finish fourth. Jones said the bay colt

didn't like the track at Oaklawn, and Hard Spun validated that explanation with

a scintillating performance in the Lane's End. He was wide on both turns and

finished strongly on Saturday.

Surprisingly, Hard Spun is one of two Pennsylvania-breds with serious

Kentucky Derby (G1) aspirations. Grade 1 winner GREAT HUNTER (Aptitude), the top

three-year-old in California and hero of the Robert B. Lewis S. (G2) in his

seasonal debut, also hails from the Keystone State. Both "Pa-breds" are

scheduled to meet in the April 14 Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland, and the Blue

Grass promises to be a dynamite prep with STREET SENSE (Street Cry [Ire]) and

ANY GIVEN SATURDAY (Distorted Humor) also expected. Hard Spun will be tested for

class in that spot.

Hard Spun didn't face much of a class check in the Lane's End. TWILIGHT

METEOR (Smart Strike), the 5-2 favorite off consecutive stakes wins for Todd

Pletcher, never fired and finished sixth. Runner-up SEDGEFIELD (Smart Strike) is

probably better on turf, and third placer JOE GOT EVEN (Stephen Got Even) was

exiting a runner-up finish in the John Battaglia Memorial S. SPORTS TOWN (Belong

to Me), BULLARA (Holy Bull) and FOREFATHERS (Gone West) all received support in

the wagering but wound up eighth, 10th and 12th, respectively. It's a shame

DOMINICAN (El Corredor) wasn't in the field.

Unraced since a third in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) in late November,

Dominican returned to the races with a smart performance in the Rushaway S. on

the Lane's End undercard. Runner-up TRUST YOUR LUCK (Mr. Greeley) was running a

big race, rallying to the lead in midstretch, when Dominican blew past his rival

to win the 1 1/16-mile test by five convincing lengths. The stalker sped his

final sixteenth of a mile in less than six seconds to notch his second career

victory, and the gelding could have a bright future. Dominican has limited

graded earnings and is too far behind to make a serious push for the Derby, but

he's certainly eligible to move forward off his smashing Rushaway victory.

ETUDE (Include) is another three-year-old of interest who could be labeled a

late bloomer. A 6 1/4-length maiden winner in January for conditioner Dick

Small, the Maryland-bred colt captured a one-mile allowance by 5 1/2 lengths

prior to making short work of his overmatched foes in Saturday's Private Terms

S., winning his stakes debut by 5 3/4 lengths under regular rider Luis Garcia.

The gray colt registered a whopping 104 BRIS Speed rating, and Etude has

established himself as an intriguing candidate for the Preakness S. (G1).

In other developments, Grade 1 winner RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy), a

half-sister to Belmont S. (G1) winner Jazil (Seeking the Gold), is no longer

under consideration for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and will train up to the

Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 4. The well-built filly has a lot going for her and

probably deserves a shot against males considering her talent, but her owners

won't go for it. They have a top Kentucky Derby (G1) contender in CIRCULAR QUAY

(Thunder Gulch), and there's no stud value in winning the Derby with a filly.

Fountain of Youth S. (G2) victor SCAT DADDY (Johannesburg) will be the one to

beat in this Saturday's $1 million Florida Derby (G1). STORMELLO (Stormy

Atlantic), who finished second by a nose to Scat Daddy following a gutsy

front-running trip in the Fountain of Youth, will travel back to Florida from

California for trainer Bill Currin, and he'll share the flight with San Rafael

S. (G2) and Risen Star S. (G3) winner NOTIONAL (In Excess [Ire]), who hails from

the mighty Doug O'Neill stable. Last year's Florida Derby turned out to be a

remarkable contest, with Barbaro gamely defeating Sharp Humor by a half-length.

We'll recap the Florida Derby and preview the Wood Memorial (G1), Santa Anita

Derby (G1) and Illinois Derby (G2) next week.