Hard Spun, the multiple stakes winner who suffered his first loss in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, probably will skip the Rebel Stakes (G3) there on March 17 and instead target the Lane’s End Stakes (G2) a week later at Turfway Park.

Trainer Larry Jones said the Lane’s End would be a better option because Hard Spun does not seem to relish the Oaklawn surface.

“That’s just it,” Jones said. “After having him down here for a couple of months, I just don’t feel like this is his favorite course to be on. He trains well, but it seems like it’s a little effort for him, and I’m not used to seeing anything that’s an effort for him.”

Hard Spun finished fourth, beaten three lengths, in the one-mile Southwest after a wide trip. He won the first four starts of his career by at least five lengths, including the Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds and two restricted stakes at Philadelphia Park.

Jones said he would make his plans after consulting with Turfway officials this week. He wants to make sure that Hard Spun would not be in any danger of being excluded from the Lane’s End in the event of an overflow field. Strong Contender was left out of the race last year because of insufficient earnings.

That probably would be no trouble for Hard Spun, who has earned $173,840, including $60,000 from the Grade 3 Lecomte.

The Lane’s End also is an option for Twilight Meteor, who won the Hallandale Beach Stakes on the grass at Gulfstream Park on February 24 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

A week later at Gulfstream, Pletcher swept the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) with Scat Daddy and Hutcheson Stakes (G2) with King of the Roxy.

Scat Daddy most likely will target the Florida Derby (G1) on March 31 at Gulfstream, while King of the Roxy probably will face a distance test in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 7.

The Littleexpectations colt finished a well-beaten eighth in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at 1 1/8 miles in his only previous start beyond the Hutcheson’s 7 1/2 furlongs. He won the Futurity Stakes (G2) at seven furlongs last September.

“I’m not convinced he’s going to handle two turns,” said Barry Irwin, president of owner Team Valor Stables. “He’s got a very short, quick stride and he doesn’t use a lot of shoulder. Everything is behind on him; he’s not helping himself in front a lot. He also carries his head a little high. When you see a horse go long, you want them to drop their head and relax. He relaxes, but not in a usual manner.

“He won so easily and so impressively that we have to try it. Whether it will work, I don’t know. I’ve seen horses like him that have done it, but you wouldn’t go out of your way to look for one that moves like him to try to go long.”

Pletcher also plans to start Sham Stakes (G3) winner Ravel in the Santa Anita Derby.

The Santa Anita Derby is one of several possible destinations for Stormello, who finished second by a nose to Scat Daddy in the Fountain of Youth.

Trainer and co-owner Bill Currin also mentioned the $1-million Arkansas Derby (G2) on April 15 as an option.

Trainer Ken McPeek said Hutcheson runner-up Bold Start could target the Florida Derby or Illinois Derby (G2) on April 7 at Hawthorne Race Course.
Source www.thoroughbredtimes.com