Hard to Deny should take step forward in second start of the season
Hard to Deny could be just that when he makes his second start of 2021 in an allowance race that will serve as the feature at Emerald Downs on Wednesday. He looks like the one to beat in a competitive dash for nonwinners of two or Washington-bred nonwinners of three.
The six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew eight horses and goes as the eighth race on a nine-race card that begins at 6 p.m. Pacific.
Trained by Chris Stenslie, Hard to Deny is coming off a third-place finish going 5 1/2 furlongs at the same level on May 19. After breaking a half step slow, he moved into a stalking position, loomed boldly while going four wide on the turn, and then hung late. In other words, he ran like a horse that needed a race and he could be a handful if he takes the expected move forward with a run under his belt.
Hard to Deny closed out 2020 with a second-place finish behind Papa’s Golden Boy in a similar race on Oct. 15. Papa’s Golden Boy is arguably the fastest horse at Emerald and the 84 Beyer he received for his blowout win in a $40,000 optional claimer on June 2 is by far the highest figure at the meet. The next best is a 71.
A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Hard Spun, Hard to Deny will break from post 3 with Juan Gutierrez retaining the mount. With decent tactical speed, he could get a nice trip stalking what figures to be a fast and contested pace.
Hard to Deny’s uncoupled stablemate Spittin Image figures to provide some of the speed.
Spittin Image was fractious in the gate but broke sharply from his outside post and dueled with Starzan before tiring to finish fifth in the same race Hard to Deny exits.
The 4-year-old Washington-bred son of Harbor the Gold also figures to move forward with a race behind him. It was his first start since was he was second to Stand To as the favorite in first-level allowance race with a $30,000 claiming option on Oct. 22.
Spittin Image will break from post 4 with Alex Cruz riding. Cruz has ridden Spitting Image in all eight of his previous races.
Stand To, trained by Rigoberto Velasquez, also has a right to improve after finishing fourth in the same race. The 4-year-old Washington-bred gelding likes to be involved early, but was taken out of his game when he got bumped around at the start. It was the first time in his six-race career that he finished worse than third.
Stand To has speed, but can stalk, and could get the right trip after breaking from post 2 with his usual rider Alex Anya aboard.
Forever Gold has been training forwardly leading up to his first start of the year. Trained by Howard Belvior, the 3-year-old son of Harbor the Gold took them all the way in his last two starts as a juvenile.