Hard Not to Like stretches out in Rodeo Drive
ARCADIA, Calif. – The New York-based mare Hard Not to Like has found a vacation home in Southern California this year.
In May, Hard Not to Like won her second career Grade 1 in the Gamely Stakes on turf at Santa Anita, her first start in Southern California. She enhanced that form with a hard-fought win in the Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga on July 25, her most recent start.
On Saturday, Hard Not to Like is back at Santa Anita and trying a new distance in the $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles on turf. If she runs well, the Rodeo Drive could lead to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 31.
Foremost on trainer Christophe Clement’s mind is whether Hard Not to Like will handle the stretch-out in distance.
“I think this is a good place to find out,” he said.
Hard Not to Like, who races for Speedway Stable, is part of a field of 11 in the Rodeo Drive, but she is the only millionaire. By Hard Spun, Hard Not to Like has won 8 of 20 starts and earned $1,261,671.
Key contenders
Hard Not to Like (Last 3 Beyers: 101-95-89)
* Hard Not to Like has won five stakes in her career and is in the midst of her best season. Clement said he considered waiting for the $500,000 Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park on Oct. 3 but was concerned that the turf course at Belmont Park could be soft. The course at Santa Anita will be firm Saturday, the first day it has been used for racing since late June.
“I’m very happy with her,” Clement said. “I wanted to run in the Flower Bowl, but the ground is a question mark. I don’t want to run on soft ground. We know there will be a firm turf for the Rodeo Drive. I had to make a decision.”
* Victor Espinoza rode Hard Not to Like in the Gamely and regains the mount on a mare who is best when racing as a stalker. In the Gamely, Hard Not to Like was in traffic in early stretch and closed well when space developed.
“Victor gave her a great ride in the Gamely,” Clement said.
Sharla Rae (Last 3 Beyers: 95-91-85)
* Sharla Rae, the only 3-year-old in the Rodeo Drive, won her first Grade 1 in the Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on turf Aug. 15. This will be Sharla Rae’s third start at 1 1/4 miles on turf. She previously placed fifth in the Grade 1 American Oaks here in May and seventh of 14 in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks on July 4.
* Trainer Doug O’Neill said the distance is not a concern compared with racing older fillies and mares.
“She’s got a tremendous amount of stamina,” said O’Neill. “It’s the older fillies and mares that will be tough.”
Elektrum (Last 3 Beyers: 92-92-86)
* Espinoza rode Elektrum to a win in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf Aug. 8 at Del Mar. With Espinoza on Hard Not to Like, Tyler Baze has gained the mount on Elektrum for trainer John Sadler.
* The Rodeo Drive will be Elektrum’s first start at 1 1/4 miles on turf since an allowance win in France last year. She later was third in a minor stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf in France before joining Sadler’s stable last winter.