Hard Not to Like eyes Breeders' Cup

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Hard Not to Like, who got up in the final jump to nip Tepin in course-record time in Saturday’s Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga, will be aimed at the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Oct. 31 at Keeneland, with likely one start before then, trainer Christophe Clement said Sunday.

Clement said races like the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont Park on Oct. 3 or the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita on Sept. 26 will be under consideration.

“My owner wants me to get her ready for the Breeders’ Cup,” said Clement, who trains Hard Not to Like for the Speedway Stables of Peter Fluor.

Fluor spent $1.5 million at the Keeneland auction last November to buy Hard Not to Like, who was already a Grade 1 winner. She has won two Grade 1 races this year, including the Gamely at Santa Anita and the Diana, to put herself at or near the top of the filly-and-mare turf division.

Clement said Hard Not to Like “came back in good order, was clean-legged this morning.”

Hard Not to Like ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:45.22, setting a Mellon turf-course record for the distance. She earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

Tepin also earned a 100 Beyer while falling a nose shy of extending her win streak to four races this year.

Trainer Mark Casse said Tepin was “good” Sunday and probably will be pointed to the Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa here Aug. 29.

Casse said his other option is to wait eight weeks for the Grade 1, $400,000 First Lady at Keeneland on Oct. 3, but he said, “I’d be a little concerned giving her eight weeks between races.”

Casse said if Tepin runs well in both the Ballston Spa and First Lady, he would consider running her against males in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 31.