Hard Not To Like returned to Woodbine, the site of her first two victories and made a statement becoming Hard Spun’s third Stakes winner beating the boys in the Cup and Saucer Stakes. The Hard Spun filly had looked extremely impressive in both of her first two trips to the post, including another victory over colts in an Allowance score.
Hard Not To Like settled patiently stalking the pace in the one and one-sixteenth mile turf race. The filly traveled four wide coming around the final turn to contend for the lead before extending her advantage in the stretch to win by more than four lengths.
The filly is the first foal for the Stakes winning Tactical Cat mare Like A Gem, who is a half-sister to Stakes winner Win And Reign and Graded-placed Cool Gator. Hard Not To Like was bred by Garland E. Williamson.
Hard Spun is the sire of 19 winners to date, with three Stakes winners among them. They include G2 winner in England Red Duke as well as Stakes winner Yvete Sangalo. His other Stakes horses include Graded/Group-placed Seeker and Questing, and Stakes-placed Glinda The Good. A son of Danzig, Hard Spun was a famously fast winner of the G1 King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga. Hard Spun is currently standing at Northwood Park at a fee of $16,500 (inc GST).
