Sweet seventeen

Hard Spun adds to lead among nation’s freshman sires

It’s definitely a September to remember for G1 winner Hard Spun as he has already been represented by six winners since the 3rd day of the month, the latest being the impressive, 8 ½ -length winner Filare l’Oro on September 14 at Laurel.

Quickest out of the gate, the bay filly was pressured until the turn for home when she opened up to win going away to give her sire his seventeenth winner from his first crop, the top number among all freshman sires for 2011.

His dam, the Strike the Gold mare Elusive Gold, has already produced the G3 winner Goulding Green as well as the Stakes-placed Baby Bird. Bred by Blue Heaven Farm, LLC, in Kentucky, Elusive Gold is a half-sister to G1 winner Stop The Traffic and Stakes winner/G3-placed Bionic Soul.

Hard Spun’s 17 winner are five more than his nearest rival. His other runners include the G2 winner Red Duke, Group-placed Questing, in addition to a number of other progressive winners.

Hard Spun is currently standing at Northwood Park at a fee of $16,500 (inc GST).