Hard Not to Like Seeking CA Score in Gamely

Speedway Stable's Hard Not to Like will look for her second grade I turf score in the $300,000 Gamely Stakes (gr. IT) May 25 at Santa Anita Park, while the other nine fillies and mares will look to make the top grade for the first time.



The winner of last year's Jenny Wiley Stakes (gr. IT) at Keeneland, where she closed from sixth to win by a half-length, the gray or roan mare by Hard Spun   hasn't been able to replicate that success in two starts this year.



In her 6-year-old debut in January at Tampa Bay Downs, Hard Not to Like crossed the wire first in the Lambholm South Endeavour Stakes (gr. IIIT), but was disqualified to second when she came out sharply to contact second-place finisher Testa Rossi in the stretch. Then, competing a third time in the Jenny Wiley (she was ninth in her first in 2013), she faded to finish third April 11.



Trainer Christophe Clement took over the care of Hard Not to Like from Michael Matz after her Jenny Wiley win in 2014.



Clement said he feels his mare will take to Santa Anita's firmer turf course, after he decided to scratch her from the Gallorette Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Pimlico Race Course May 16, where she was the morning-line favorite.

The 1 1/8-mile Gamely will be Hard Not to Like's first start in California and she'll break from post 9 with first-time rider Victor Espinoza. All entrants will carry 119 pounds.



"The way she trains and the way she moves, she should like the firmer ground," said Clement, who hasn't won a graded stakes in California since the Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT) with Discreet Marq in 2013. "It's been a while since I've won a race in California, but we'll keep trying."



Although there are no other grade I winners in the field, there are ample challengers with experience winning over the Southern California grass.



Ran Jan Racing's Moulin de Mougin, a 5-year-old Curlin   mare trained by Richard Mandella, will break from the rail with jockey Mike Smith. She last won the John C. Mabee Stakes (gr. IIT) at Del Mar in August, but clipped heels and fell in the Rodeo Drive Stakes (gr. IT) in September, then didn't factor in the Thunder Road Stakes April 5.



The entrants with the most momentum, however, appear to be Queen of The Sand and Blingismything, both last-time-out winners in grade III grass events.



Derrick Fisher's Queen of The Sand closed from eighth to capture the April 18 Santa Barbara Handicap (gr. IIIT) and Class Racing Stable's Blingismything stalked and surged to win the April 28 Wilshire (gr. IIIT). Both were at Santa Anita.



Team Valor International's Three Hearts is also a grade III winner in the field.