Hard Spun Gets Breeders’ Cup Champion Upon U.S. Return

[Wandering Eyes]

The Darley stallion Hard Spun enjoyed an active year at stud as his first crop of 3-year-olds after his return from his year-long stint at Sheikh Mohammed’s stallion operation in Japan in 2014 hit the track. This year, he was represented by six U.S. graded stakes winners, including his first Breeders’ Cup Champion.

“Hard Spun was sent to our operation in Japan to bolster their roster and fulfill a role as a successful semi-proven stallion there,” said Darley Sales Manager Darren Fox. “Taking any horse out of a market is certainly not ideal, but with a stallion that is the caliber of Hard Spun, I would consider it a glitch and nothing else.”

After a year at the Darley Japan operation, Hard Spun was brought back to the United States for the 2015 breeding season. The same strategy was used for fellow Darley sire Street Sense, who spent a year in Japan in 2013 and sired Grade I winners McKinzie and Maxfield upon returning. Fox said, “In the long run, we believe this is an important job globally and for the bigger picture of our operation. Hard Spun was able to have the benefits of being exposed to a new market, as well as being able to breed to some of the best of Sheikh Mohammed’s mares in Japan.”

Hard Spun’s first crop of 3-year-olds following the year overseas made it to the track this year. The sophomore group made a splash at the stakes level, racking in five graded stakes wins over the year. A Thread of Blue claimed the GIII Palm Beach S. in his graded stakes debut, and later won the inaugural running of the $1,000,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational S. this summer. Out for a Spin took the GI Central Bank Ashland S. at the Keeneland Spring meet, claiming the first of two Grade I wins for her sire in the United States this year. Hard Legacy added another graded stakes win in the GIII Regret S. at Churchill Downs.

This assortment of successful sophomores showed a good deal of versatility with graded stakes wins on dirt and turf. Fox said, “It is very special to have a Grade I winner on dirt who is by Danzig, but is still just as effective as a sire on turf as he is on dirt. This opens up more opportunities for breeders, which is incredibly important to us with the rise of turf racing here in the last five years.”

Although Eclipse Champion 3-year-old filly Questing (GB) came from his first crop, Hard Spun was still lacking a Breeders’ Cup champion to his credit coming into this year. He had a promising prospect develop late in the season as Spun to Run, a 3-year-old colt out of the stakes winner and producer Yawkey Way (Grand Slam), took the GIII Smarty Jones S. in September. He went on to claim the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile by a near three lengths, defeating Grade I winners Omaha Beach (War Front) and Improbable (City Zip), as well as five-time graded stakes winner Coal Front (Stay Thirsty).

Fox said Spun to Run embodies many of the best qualities in Hard Spun. “When I think of Hard Spun, I think of his heart, desire, and the will to win. He was able to take the Grade I King’s Bishop at seven furlongs and then go on to run second to Curlin in the [GI] Breeders’ Cup Classic that same year. Spun to Run embodies much of Hard Spun’s heart and speed, that honest running style that says, ‘Here’s what I have, catch me if you can.’ It’s a joy to watch and is certainly something that runs in a lot of Hard Spun’s progeny.”

Outside of this year’s sophomore class, Hard Spun was well represented by both older horses and juveniles. Godolphin-owned Lucullan caught two stakes wins this year including the GII Knickerbocker S. at Belmont. Juvenile colt Green Light Go took this year’s GII Saratoga Special S. by nearly four lengths, and then followed up with a second-place finish in the GI Champagne S.

Hard Spun was a four-time graded stakes winner himself, highlighted by the GI King’s Bishop at three. He entered stud in 2008 and has since produced 12 Grade I winners and over 50 black-type winners. He is one of two sons of champion sire Danzig standing in Kentucky, along with top sire War Front.

Fox said it is gratifying for the Darley team to be a part of the Danzig legacy in this way. “It is rewarding to watch him represent the Danzig legacy, both as an elite performer and an elite sire. For him to be mentioned in the same breath as War Front as the only two sires by Danzig in Kentucky, it’s a nice group to be a part of.”

After a year of strong contenders across the country, Hard Spun currently sits third on the general sires list by wins this year for stallions standing in North America. He is also ranked in this year’s top 10 sires in North America by graded stakes winners, with Into Mischief, Quality Road, and Hard Spun all ranked at a count of six. While all but one other sire making this list has a six-figure stud fee, Hard Spun’s fee is the lowest on the list, set for $40,000 in 2020.

“He falls in a sweet spot in the market, riding the bull’s-eye as a proven stallion under $50,000 that can get you a top runner,” said Fox. “He serves all purposes: breeders wanting to get a maiden mare off to a strong start, breeders looking for a quality racehorse, and also those looking to get something for the commercial market. He’s been really popular with breeders this year; it’s been gratifying to see the response and the attention he deserves.”

A year like the one Hard Spun has had does not go unnoticed in the market; Fox said his book is nearly full for 2020. “He’s a wonderful addition to our roster and certainly represents the future of Darley. We couldn’t be more excited to have him here and watch what he has coming through in the coming years.”

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