Hard Not to Love may await Beholder Mile in March

ARCADIA, Calif. – Hard Not to Love may not race again until the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita on March 14 after her upset win in Saturday’s Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.

Hard Not To Love, who is by Hard Spun and out of the Vindication mare Loving Vindication, has never raced beyond seven furlongs in five career starts, but trainer John Shirreffs said longer races should suit the four-time winner.

“We want to go two turns,” he said. “Her breeding asks for it.”

Hard Not to Love, who lost her left eye in a paddock accident before she was sent to Shirreffs, was an impressive winner of the La Brea after a bit of drama before the start.

Hard Not to Love was reluctant to break into a gallop after the post parade and needed a patient approach by jockey Mike Smith and several outriders before she began to warm-up. The incident was not a surprise to Shirreffs, who has given Hard Not to Love extra attention because of her sight issues since she joined her barn.

“She gets distracted easily,” Shirreffs said on Sunday morning. “When she gets upset, she turns around on the track.”

In the $301,404 La Brea, Hard Not to Love ($25.20) closed from last into a quick pace to reach contention in early stretch. With a wide rally, she took the lead in the final furlong and won by 2 3/4 length over Bellafina, the 3-5 favorite.

Owned by a large partnership that includes West Point Thoroughbreds, Hard Not to Love won her first stakes in the La Brea. She was third in the minor Angels Flight Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs last May before being given a break in late spring and summer.

Hard Not to Love won an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option at six furlongs on Oct. 25 as a prep for the La Brea Stakes. Purchased for $400,000 as a yearling in 2017, Hard Not to Love has earned $288,840.

Bellafina, a six-time stakes winner, will be given a 30-day break at a local farm before resuming training later this winter, trainer Simon Callaghan said on Sunday.

“She came out of the race well,” Callaghan said.

Bellafina was favored on the strength of a second in the Breeders’ Cup Fillly and Mare Sprint here on Nov. 2. Callaghan said races such as the Grade 1 Madison Stakes, a $300,000 race for fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Keeneland on April 4 will be considered.

Bellafina, who is owned by Kaleem Shah, has won 6 of 13 starts and earned $1,446,725. She is winless in five starts since the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks in April.