Hard Spun's Success Puts Jensen in Spiral
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Hard Spun winning the 2007 Lanes End Stakes
Larry and Cindy Jones' homebred colt Jensen isn't nominated to the Triple Crown, but he will attempt to follow in the footsteps of his broodmare sire, Hard Spun , in the $500,000 Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (gr. III) April 2 at Turfway Park.
The 1 1/8-mile Spiral, which offers 85 points on the "Road to the Kentucky Derby," is expected to draw a full field of 3-year-olds, according to the Turfway racing office.
Jensen, winner of a maiden and entry-level allowance event this winter at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, is a Kentucky-bred by Haynesfield out of the Hard Spun mare Spun Lake. Hard Spun, trained by Larry Jones, won the Spiral on Polytrack and then finished second in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
Hard Spun returned to Turfway later that year to win the Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) versus older rivals.
"Hard Spun loved the synthetic up there," Jones said. "I'm just going to try to make Jensen look as much like his old granddaddy as I can. This is probably the first grandson that's out there running from Hard Spun."
Jensen would require a $200,000 supplemental payment to be eligible for the Kentucky Derby. Jones imagines a different path for Jensen.
"I have always said I've wanted a horse good enough to dodge all the good horses," he said. "A hero I had many years ago was a horse called Lost Code. He was the same crop as Alysheba and Bet Twice. He didn't even run against those guys until he was nearly done making almost $2 million."
Jones opted to pass on the March 26 TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (gr. II). He already was leading to the Spiral but then found out regular rider Florent Geroux, who won the Louisiana Derby with Gun Runner, could ride Jensen at Turfway.
Others expected for the Spiral, or perhaps the 1 1/16-mile Rushaway Stakes for 3-year-olds on the same program, are Airoforce, Azar, Crescent Drive, Don't Be So Salty, Kasseopia, Oscar Nominated, Ralis, Strike Up the Band, Surgical Strike, Swagger Jagger, That Makes Sense, and Two Step Time. Turfway officials said Backtogetheragain, Gimlet, Whatawonderflworld, and Zapperini are possible for the Spiral but may go in the Rushaway.