Island Town stands out in G3 Matt Winn Stakes

Hard Spun three-year-old Island Town made his Stakes debut an impressive one June 13, with a strong win in the G3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs.

In the one-and-one-sixteenth-mile race Island Town went out to set the early pace in the Graded event. Maintaining the lead into the stretch, the son of Hard Spun was challenged down the lane but fought back in the final strides to come away with the win. Discreet Cat's Private Prospect finished third.

Bred in Kentucky by Randy Bloch et al, Island Town is out of the Distorted Humor mare Humorous Gal, and is from the family of G1 Widener Handicap winner Launch A Pegasus.

With the win Island Town became the 18th Graded Stakes winner for Hard Spun. The sire has recently been represented by Hard Not To Like, who earned her second G1 in the Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita. Other top runners for the sire include G1 Arlington Million winner Hardest Core, G1 Wood Memorial winner Wicked Strong, and Eclipse Champion Questing.

Hard Spun stands for $35,000 live foal, stands and nurses.