Hard Not to Love trying two turns in Beholder Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – Hard Not to Love has had plenty of challenges thrown her way, what with having lost an eye and her subsequent understandably nervous demeanor. But she’s overcome that, so what’s facing her Saturday at Santa Anita seems almost quaint.

But going from racing exclusively around one turn to a two-turn race can be a hurdle, and that’s what Hard Not to Love will try to do for the first time when she heads the Grade 1, $400,000 Beholder Mile for older females. It is race 7 on an eight-race card that is all dirt racing.

In addition to stretching out, Hard Not to Love has to go up against the accomplished Ollie’s Candy, a Grade 1 winner making her first start since a respectable fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

One of the key elements to Hard Not to Love’s progress has been her association with jockey Mike Smith, who is 3 for 3 aboard her. Trainer John Shirreffs believes Smith is so integral to Hard Not to Love’s success that he said last weekend he’d likely pass the race if Smith was unable to ride.

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Smith is facing a potential multi-day suspension from racing authorities in Saudi Arabia for infractions of their rules last month, but as of Wednesday – when Saturday’s entries were taken – Santa Anita’s stewards had yet to get a definitive ruling from Saudi stewards, so Smith was allowed to be named on horses for the Saturday card.

“Mike has made a dramatic difference in how she handles the afternoon,” Shirreffs said Thursday morning. “Horses appreciate confidence from a rider and having a connection with the rider. When you know the rider is with you every step of the way, it gives the horse confidence. She needs to be touched. You can’t get mad at her if she gets stressed. You need a calming, reassuring voice. If you can impart that, it means a lot.”

Smith has done his best work with Hard Not to Love just getting her to the starting gate, as she often will plant her feet and refuse to move until good and ready. But once getting to the gate, she’s all business. She has won five times in six starts, all sprints, and at this meet has won the Grade 1 La Brea and Grade 2 Santa Monica, both at seven furlongs.

Hard Not to Love, 4, is by Hard Spun out of a Vindication mare.

“Obviously this is the first time going two turns, but with her pedigree it shouldn’t be a problem,” Shirreffs said. “Getting post 1 is a little bit of a concern, but she’s not quick out of the gate, so it shouldn’t matter.”

In other words, Shirreffs expects Smith to get outside as soon as he’s able.

Ollie’s Candy returns from a designed four-month layoff. She has turned in a strong, steady series of recent works.

“She’s really trained well,” said her trainer, John Sadler. “Just gave her a post-Breeders’ Cup break to get ready for a 2020 campaign.”

Under the conditions of the race, Ollie’s Candy carries top weight of 125 pounds. Everyone else carries 121.

Seven are entered, but fewer may start. Trainer Bob Baffert entered both Der Lu and Mother Mother, but said only Der Lu was certain to run.