Two-year-old Hard Nosed, by Hard Spun, became the sire's 12th winner September 3 in a Maiden Special Weight at Suffolk Downs. The Robert LaPenta owned colt showed plenty of early talent breaking his maiden in only his second start.
During the 1100m event the colt grabbed the early lead to set the pace. All were chasing Hard Nosed throughout the race, and coming into the turn he opened up before maintaining his margin down the straight for the victory.
Hard Nosed was bred by White Fox Farm and is out of the Stakes winning and Graded-placed Forest Wildcat mare Katy Kat. The mare is a full-sister to Stakes winner Yaddo Cat and a half-sister to Group-placed Kombat Kat.
Hard Spun's 12 winners impressively leads all US first year sires. A son of Danzig, Hard Spun's first black type success came recently when Red Duke took the G2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket, and his daughter Questing has become G3-placed already. Hard Spun's best victory was earned in the G1 King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga, but he also showed versatility stretching out for strong second place efforts in the G1 Kentucky Derby and G1 Breeders' Cup Classic.
Hard Spun will stand this season at Darley's Victorian base, Northwood Park at a fee of $16,500 (inc GST).
