Del Mar: Hard to Resist fresh, fit, and dangerous

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DEL MAR, Calif. – Though she hasn’t raced since January, Hard to Resist has been raring to go for a while, with trainer Pete Eurton desperately searching for a spot. He seems to have found an ideal one in the $85,000 seventh race Thursday at Del Mar, because there’s plenty of speed to set up Hard to Resist’s late run.

Hard to Resist was sent to the sidelines following a fourth-place finish in the Megahertz Stakes at Santa Anita, which marked her seventh straight defeat. She has won over Del Mar’s turf course, though, and Eurton believes the Hard to Resist who returns in the one-mile grass allowance race Thursday will be new and improved.

“The time off did her a world of good,” Eurton said at his Del Mar barn. “She used to get hot going to the track, but she acts much cooler now.

“She’s been ready for a while. She’s been training real well.”

Hard to Resist drew the outside post in the field of six, and Corey Nakatani rides.

The pace should be strong. Miss Ellany, breaking just to the inside of Hard to Resist, has won two straight in front-running fashion; Little Emily prefers to race near the lead, as does Candrea; and A Jealous Woman could show renewed interest in the front end with Patrick Valenzuela taking over.

Miss Ellany seeks her third consecutive victory after beating first- and second-level allowance company at Betfair Hollywood Park.

“I know she’s not the only speed, but there’s not a faster one in there,” said John Sadler, who trains Miss Ellany. “She’s better off if you let her run a little bit. She’s got a nice cruising speed.”

Little Emily has finished out of the money in five straight races, but usually makes her presence felt early. She did win over this course last summer, when rating tactics were used.

Candrea returns to action for the first time since April. Her only grass race resulted in an eighth-place finish, but it was over the tricky downhill sprint course at Santa Anita in the Wishing Well Stakes.

[DEL MAR 2013: Complete meet coverage, schedule, race replays]

“I don’t know where to run her,” admitted her trainer, Bob Baffert.

A Jealous Woman led from gate to wire over this course last year, but has displayed less speed in her last four starts, all losses. She was eighth in the Osunitas Stakes here July 20.

Dancingtothestars was sixth in the Osunitas, her lone start over this course. She is winless in six starts this year, but was second in the Wishing Well, finishing nearly four lengths in front of Candrea.