Sixth Group winner for Hard Spun

Making her first start since May of 2012, Hard Not To Like certainly came back with a bang with a strong win in the G3 Marshua's River Stakes at Gulfstream January 5. The four-year-old mare added a sixth Graded/Group winner to her sire Hard Spun's resume with the win.

Hard Not To Like settled on the outside four lengths off the pace in the 1700m turf race. Approaching the final turn the grey slipped along the inside in to a contending spot, then came through on the rail for the game win.

At two, Hard Not To Like won Woodbine's Cup And Saucer Stakes. As a three-year-old, the Hard Spun filly placed in the G1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. Hard Not To Like was bred by Garland E. Williamson and is the first foal for the multiple Stakes winner Like A Gem, by Tactical Cat. The mare is a half-sister to G3-placed Hard Spun filly Ruby Lips, as well as Stakes winner Win And Reign and Graded-placed Cool Gator.

Hard Spun is already the sire of two G1 winners in G1 Mother Goose Stakes victress Zo Impressive and multiple G1 winner Questing, who was named a finalist for Eclipse Champion Three-Year-Old Filly earlier in the day. The son of Danzig is already the sire of a remarkable 16 Stakes winners and 17 Graded/Group horses.

Hard Spun will be represented by two yearlings at the Magic Millions yearling sale this week, the Hillside-consigned lot 444, a colt out of a daughter of G2 winner Beachside and lot 671, a half-sister to Stakes-placed filly Diamonds Am I, consigned by Fig Tree Thoroughbreds.