Hard Spun Gets 'Exactly What He Needed' in Keeneland Work

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Trainer Larry Jones sent Kentucky Derby contender Hard Spun for a mile work over the Polytrack surface at Lexington’s Keeneland Racecourse Monday, April 23.

The Lane’s End Stakes (gr. II) winner went the mile in 1:42 2/5 under regular rider Mario Pino, running the last half in :50 and the final eighth in :12.

“It looked like he got exactly what he needed,” Jones said. “If that’s what Mario wanted, that’s what we wanted. He galloped out very well.”

“He went great, finished up good, and got a good work out of it,” Pino said.

Owned by Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm, the son of Danzig last breezed five furlongs at Churchill Downs in a bullet 1:00 1/5 on April 12. He will go into the Derby off a six-week layoff since his 3 1/4-length victory over Sedgefield in the Lane’s End at Turfway Park. Before that, he finished fourth as the 1-2 favorite in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Jones said Hard Spun will remain at Keeneland until April 28 or 29, and will aim for a final work April 30 after shipping into Churchill Downs for the May 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). 

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