Hard Love Aims for First Stakes Score in Woodhaven
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Hard Love breaks his maiden last fall at Belmont Park
Robert LaPenta and Augustin Stable's Hard Love came close to breaking through in his stakes debut last out and will look to break through in his third career start in the $100,000 Woodhaven Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for 3-year-olds April 17 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Jonathan Thomas, Hard Love ran second in the Nov. 28 Central Park Stakes at Aqueduct, where he displayed stalking tactics behind a leisurely pace and maintained second throughout to finish 1 3/4 lengths back to Never Surprised at the Woodhaven distance.
The Kitten's Joy ridgling displayed a similar running style when victorious on debut Oct. 10 at Belmont Park. He stalked a moderate pace, established command in the upper stretch, and battled with runner-up Big Everest to a two-length win.
Thomas said Hard Love could continue to see prosperity as he stretches out.
"We had been scrambling a little bit for works, but I think we have enough foundation where we can get him started in the Woodhaven," Thomas said. "Hopefully, as the distances get drawn out over the summer, he's going to be adept at that."
Javier Castellano will pilot Hard Love from the inside post.
Trainer Jorge Abreu will send out Lawrence and Jennifer Goichman's Shawdyshawdyshawdy , who looks to get back on track after finishing second in his seasonal bow in a Tampa Bay Downs allowance optional claimer. The Summer Front colt broke from the rail and was nine lengths off a slow pace before making up enough ground to finish a respectable second to filly Queen of the Green in that Feb. 10 race.
A debut victory going 1 1/16 miles Aug. 1 at Saratoga Race Course prompted Shawdyshawdyshawdy's connections to try stakes company. The homebred finished fourth beaten one length in the Sept. 7 More Than Ready Juvenile at Kentucky Downs, then fourth again, this time 4 1/4 lengths behind eventual Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America (G1T) winner Fire At Will , in the Oct. 3 Pilgrim (G2T) at Belmont. He was sixth in the Oct. 31 Awad back at Belmont over yielding turf to end his juvenile season.
"He's doing great," Abreu said. "I gave him the allowance race because I wanted to get him back on track from the time off. He ran a good race and tried. He's a horse that I think wants to go longer. He's a big horse, he's 17.1 (hands)."
Trevor McCarthy will be aboard from post 4.
Trainer Chad Brown will saddle Peter Brant's Sifting Sands , who arrives fresh off a maiden victory March 13 at Tampa. The Dubawi half brother to multiple group 1 winner Legatissimo saved ground throughout and rode the rail to a three-quarter-length victory going one mile.
Manny Franco will ride Sifting Sands for the first time from the outside post.
Completing the field are Kitten's Joy Stakes (G3T) third Original , Rushaway Stakes second Extrasexybigdaddee , allowance-level winner It's a Gamble , and two-time maiden runner Minuteman .
Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, April 17, 2021, Race 8Entries: Woodhaven S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Hard Love (KY)
Javier Castellano
118
Jonathan Thomas
4/5
2
2It's a Gamble (NY)
Junior Alvarado
120
Kelly J. Breen
10/1
3
3Extrasexybigdaddee (PA)
Kendrick Carmouche
118
Michael J. Trombetta
10/1
4
4Shawdyshawdyshawdy (KY)
Trevor McCarthy
118
Jorge R. Abreu
4/1
5
5Original (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
118
John P. Terranova II
6/1
6
6Minuteman (GER)
Eric Cancel
118
Thomas Albertrani
30/1
7
7Sifting Sands (GB)
Manuel Franco
118
Chad C. Brown
5/1
