Hard Spun will stay put

The undefeated Hard Spun will remain at his Oaklawn Park base for the track's series of stakes for 3-year-olds, beginning with the $250,000 Southwest on Feb. 19.

"Right now, we're planning on the whole campaign right here," said Larry Jones, who trains Hard Spun for Rick Porter.

Hard Spun won the Grade 3, $100,000 Lecomte at Fair Grounds in his two-turn debut last out and had been considered for the Grade 3, $300,000 Risen Star there Feb. 10. By staying home, he will not have to make the 10-hour van ride to New Orleans from Hot Springs, Ark., said Jones.

Hard Spun worked three furlongs in 36.80 seconds Sunday. Jones had pushed the work back a day because Hard Spun had a cough last week, although he did not miss any training. Jones said Hard Spun did not cough cooling out after the work.

The other stakes in the 3-year-old series at Oaklawn are the Grade 3, $300,000 Rebel on March 17, and the Grade 2, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 14.

Hard Spun is considered one of the top 3-year-olds in training after winning his first four starts by a combined 28 lengths.