Aptly Named Hard Not to Love a Standout in Santa Monica

Racing from 2017-19—including the 2017 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), in which he finished 14th—Patch became a fan favorite, with racegoers rooting on the one-eyed horse over a 14-race career in which he won two races and hit the board in such major races as the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) and Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).

With Patch's retirement to Old Friends Farm near Georgetown, Ky., the most successful single-eyed racehorse training in North America right now is Hard Not to Love, the headliner of the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes (G2) Feb. 15 at Santa Anita Park.

The 4-year-old Hard Spun  filly lost her left eye in a freak accident as a yearling but hasn't let the impediment stop her. She has won four of her five races, much to the credit of trainer John Shirreffs and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. They have worked to ease her anxiety and quirky behavior, in part caused by her sight limitations.

Their hard work was rewarded Dec. 28 when Hard Not to Love rallied from ninth to win the La Brea Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita, an effort that stamped her as the likely favorite against Santa Monica rivals Road Rager, Zusha, Lady Ninja, and Mother Mother. She and Lady Ninja, who won the Oct. 5 L.A. Woman Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita a few starts ago, are the only graded winners in the short lineup.

Video: La Brea S. (G1)

Hard Not to Love, bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms out of the Vindication mare Loving Vindication, has made $288,480 for owners Mercedes Stables, West Point Thoroughbreds, Scott Dilworth, David and Dorothy Ingordo, and Steve Mooney.

"Let's face it: There aren't that many trainers that would have gotten a filly like this to the spot she's in as a grade 1 winner," said Terry Finley, the president and CEO of West Point Thoroughbreds. "It's him and his team, and it's also the partnership group in giving John the flexibility and all the time he has needed."

Finley credits bloodstock agent David Ingordo for the partners' success with the filly. Ingordo selected her for purchase at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $400,000 as part of her breeder's consignment. When purchased, she was related to one stakes winner, Solemn Tribute, though now her stakes-winning siblings include Wonder Gadot, who won the 2018 Queen's Plate Stakes at Woodbine. Wonder Gadot was Canada's champion 2-year-old filly in 2017, and the next year she was named champion 3-year-old filly and that country's Horse of the Year.

Smith, aboard Hard Not to Love in the La Brea and an allowance-level win last fall, returns in the irons. The La Brea was Smith's 216th grade 1 win, which tied the record set by retired Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey. Smith broke the record later on the Dec. 28 card when Omaha Beach  won the Malibu Stakes (G1).

"To see the genuine admiration he has for her is very moving," Finley said.

The Bob Baffert-trained Mother Mother, who was third behind Hard Not to Love in the La Brea, is her main challenger. Three times grade 1-placed, she is in search of an overdue graded win. Mother Mother won the Jan. 12 Kalookan Queen Stakes at Santa Anita—beating Lady Ninja—for owners Gainesway Stable, Old Bones Racing Stable, Barry Hall, Barry Lipman, and Mark Mathiesen.

Zusha, who is more accustomed to routing, and Road Rager, who is still eligible for a first-level allowance, will be the least backed by the betting public.

Entries: Santa Monica S. (G2)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, February 15, 2020, Race 8

• Grade II
• 7f
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 4:07 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Road Rager (KY)	Aaron T. Gryder	120	Brian J. Koriner	30/1
2	2Zusha (KY)	Tiago Josue Pereira	120	Gary Mandella	12/1
3	3Lady Ninja (KY)	Abel Cedillo	122	Richard Baltas	2/1
4	4Hard Not to Love (ON)	Mike E. Smith	124	John A. Shirreffs	6/5
5	5Mother Mother (KY)	Flavien Prat	120	Bob Baffert	8/5