Hard Spun - Haskell

[cowgirlintexas]

Interesting to read that regular jock Mike Pino will be back aboard after owners decided that Gomez did'nt make much difference.. Seems to me I remember lots of talk about his "bad" ride in the Derby or was it the Preakness?? Forget wich, but just wonder waht ya'll think and if you think Hard Spun can win the Haskell.. Hard fast track might just be to his liking...

Thoughts everyone??

[Travis Stone]

I think this horse just needs to go-go-go, especially in this spot. He seems like more of an outrun all the way than a finesse rate/pounce horse.

[trifecta124]

I think he has a good chance to wire the field. The track will probably be super fast. I do believe that Stormello also has a lot of speed.

The bad ride was in the Preakness.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Hard Spun can't seem to get a break....

With Stormello in the race...I don't think he'll have a chance--unless Stormello is inexplicably rated.

I was hoping Stormello would have tried the King's Bishop....a race he'd have had a big shot in.

He has no shot of hitting the board in the Haskell.

[NoLuvForPletch]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I think Hard Spun will be lucky to hit the board here. There is a lot of speed and sprinter speed at that. Stormello is very fast and Cable Boy has some speed.

I'm hoping to finally cash with this guy. In the Preakness he was in the perfect spot, rating nicely behind the two speeds, before Pino unexplainably said go into the blistering pace. If Stormello and Cable Boy hook up and go too fast, Pino wont make the same mistake and he'll let those 2 come back to him. It is only a 1 1/8 race, and he's drawn outside the two so called speeds. If he gets the lead, and the other speeds can't keep up (Stomello couldn't keep up in the Derby, I know he was in the 17 post) he's gone, IMO.

[sumitas]

The 2 speed horses might set up Hard Spun perfectly here. Curlin should still get the job done just nipping HS.

[Travis Stone]

Stormello could not keep up in the Derby, and I don't see how he's going to make-up for all that time now. I truly think Hard Spun is just plain faster than he early.

[sumitas]

One possibility is Curlin over the 2 longest shots on the board in a small ex.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Stormello seemed like he was rated a bit in the Derby, like was said earlier he also broke from post 17.

I think strangled more so than rated.

[MaTH716]

The track has been playing to the front runners. In the Preakness it seemed that HS was rating nicley until Pino made his backside brush (ala Cat Manzi) and tried to bottom out the field. If he could rate again and Pino doesn't do anything crazy I think he has a very good shot.

[Danzig]

as was mentioned above, this track has been kind to front runners. a derby-style performance, and hard spun will be uncatchable.

nice field, looking forward to it. glad to see that everyone isn't playing the avoid game this year, a nice change of pace.

[slotdirt]

I always liked that Mike Pino.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I always liked that Mike Pino.

oh me too! of course he complains when people confuse him with mario...

[slotdirt]

Think he needed a rest post-Preakness. Hopefully the two months off will have recharged his batteries; Hard Spun's workouts have shown he could be sitting on a good race.

[NoLuvForPletch]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

The track has a reputation for playing kindly to front runners and while it's probably true, I'm not so sure it has lately. Speed helps at any track really, except for maybe Del mar and Keeneland, but I saw a few races on Wednesday and the track seemed to be fair, at least in the routes.

Now I would not be shocked at all to see a souped up track, it's becoming commonplace on these big days. But it's sort of tough to count on a speed favoring track. Hard Spun is a nice horse. If he has improved since the Belmont he rates a big shot. But it really looks like the pace scenario is against him.

The leader after the opening 1/4 mile in The Haskell has been 1st or 2nd the last 6 years.

2006 - 2nd
2005 - 2nd
2004 - 1st
2003 - 1st
2002 - 1st
2001 - 2nd

I think the real question is how much better have these 3 year old become since the Belmont. The big players, Hard Spun and Any Given Saturday have become significantly better imo. Curlin... I dont know, but he was already very good.

I have not forgotten those fractions in the Belmont. That was horrible for Hard Spun. over 50 seconds for 4f... 1:15 4/5 for 6f.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Am I the only one that thinks there is other speed in here and Curlin and Any Given Saturday are better horses?

I'm with you on that.

[NoLuvForPletch]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Sure, but it's important to realize that those 6 were all very logical, and stalkers and or front runners. I guess point Given in 2001 was more of a mid pack/closer, but with no speed he was up close. In 2002 obviously War Emblem was a front runner as we saw in the Derby and Preakness. Peace Rules in 2003, Lion Heart in 2004, Roman Ruler in 2005 and Bluegrass Cat last year.

Am I the only one that thinks there is other speed in here and Curlin and Any Given Saturday are better horses?

Whether they are better or not isn't the question. I think at Monmouth Hard Spun has a distinct advantage. Curlin very well could be better, not so sure about Any Given Saturday.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by NoLuvForPletch

Whether they are better or not isn't the question. I think at Monmouth Hard Spun has a distinct advantage. Curlin very well could be better, not so sure about Any Given Saturday.

Yeah but Curlin also can be taken back or pressed to the lead.

[NoLuvForPletch]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Yeah but Curlin also can be taken back or pressed to the lead.

IMO there is no way Curlin runs with Hard Spun. That would be suicide for him.