Hard to Deny works his way into Longacres Mile
Last week trainer Chris Stenslie said she was probably not going to run Hard to Deny in the Grade 3, $100,000 Longacres Mile, which drew 11 horses and will be run as the eighth race Sunday at Emerald Downs.
But after watching how well Hard to Deny trained this week, she changed her mind, and on Wednesday entered him in the Mile. A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Hard Spun, Hard to Deny will break from post 4 with leading rider Anthony Cruz aboard. He replaces Juan Gutierrez, who will ride the Peter Miller-trained Anyportinastorm.
“He’s just training so well that I would be kicking myself if I didn’t give him a chance in our biggest race,” Stenslie said.
Hard to Deny is coming off back-to-back wins going a mile. His latest victory came in an open allowance race July 24, and his performance came as a bit of a surprise to Stenslie.
Prior to the race, Stenslie was thinking Hard to Deny’s stablemate Spittin Image was the one that would use the race as a springboard to the Mile. But after setting the pace, Spittin Image finished in a dead heat for third with Oh Marvelous Me. Hard to Deny sat just off Spittin Image before drawing off to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Unmachable, who also is running in the Mile.
Stenslie is hoping for a similar trip Sunday.
“There is a ton of speed and he can stalk, so hopefully he can settle into a nice spot early,” she said.
Hard to Deny signaled his readiness when he breezed a half-mile in 47.60 seconds last Sunday.
“I know it’s a tough spot,” said Stenslie, who is winning races at a solid 23 percent at the meet. “But he ran big last time and he is full of confidence right now.”
Five Star General is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the Mile, with Anyportinastorm at 3-1. Hard to Deny is 15-1.
Patricia L in good spot
Patricia L will appreciate the class relief and won’t mind the shape of the race in a $25,000 claimer for nonwinners of two that will serve as Saturday’s feature. The six-furlong dash for fillies and mares drew seven horses and appears to be wide open. It goes as race 6 on the seven-race card, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Pacific.
Trained by Frank Lucarelli, Patricia L is coming off a fifth-place finish in the $50,000 Seattle Stakes on June 20. She broke a step slow in the six-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies and was 14 lengths behind the leaders at the half-mile call before finishing with a rush to get within four lengths of the winner, Ms Lynn.
Patricia L has worked well in the interim and won her debut, so she can fire fresh.
Patricia L also does her best running late, and with plenty of potential speed in the field she could pick up the pieces.
Heribert Martinez will be aboard when she breaks from post 6.
Lutes Lil Gift is taking a big step up in class after winning an $8,000 maiden claimer in her debut July 1.
Trained by Rosie Simkins, Lutes Lil Gift broke sharply in the 5 1/2-furlong dash and was well in hand when she crossed the wire 9 1/2 lengths in the clear. The runner-up, Cribbs, came back to win her next start at the same level by six lengths.
Julien Couton picks up the mount from Kevin Radke.