Sixth Graded winner for Hard Spun

Making her first start since May of 2012, Hard Not To Like certainly came back with a bang with a strong score in the G3 Marshua's River Stakes at Gulfstream January 5. The four-year-old filly added a sixth Graded/Group winner to sire Hard Spun's resume with the win.

Hard Not To Like settled on the outside four lengths off the pace in the one and one-sixteenth mile turf race. Approaching the final turn the gray slipped along the inside into a contending spot, then came through on the rail for the game win.

At two, Hard Not To Like won Woodbine's Cup And Saucer Stakes. As a three-year-old, the Hard Spun filly placed in the G1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. Hard Not To Like was bred by Garland E. Williamson and is the first foal for the multiple Stakes winner Like A Gem, by Tactical Cat. The mare is a half-sister to G3-placed Hard Spun filly Ruby Lips, as well as Stakes winner Win And Reign and Graded-placed Cool Gator.

Hard Spun is already the sire of two G1 winners in G1 Mother Goose Stakes victress Zo Impressive and multiple G1 winner Questing, who was named a finalist for Eclipse Champion Three-Year-Old Filly earlier in the day. The son of Danzig is a sire of a remarkable 16 Stakes winners and 17 Graded/Group horses from his first two crops.

Hard Spun will stand the upcoming breeding season at Darley America for $60,000 stands and nurses.