The Hardest Way well-drawn outside in Triple Bend

ARCADIA, Calif. – It’s been five years since the seven-furlong Triple Bend changed from a handicap to stakes conditions, but there are ways to compromise the best horse other than assigning weight.

It also happens by luck of the draw, such as Saturday at Santa Anita. American Anthem, class of the field, drew the inside post in the Triple Bend. That is not necessarily a deal-breaker, except pesky front-runner Cistron is drawn to his direct outside in post 2.

American Anthem might win the $200,000 race despite being doubly compromised by post and pace. Or maybe the Triple Bend, downgraded to Grade 2 even after last year’s win by City of Light, is ripe for a newcomer.

Enter 5-year-old The Hardest Way, whose top achievement is a second-level allowance victory at Keeneland. It was more than a run-of-the-mill allowance. The Hardest Way, making his first start for Doubledown Stables owner Richard Templer and trainer Ron Ellis, crushed by more than six lengths with a 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

Surprised? “To be quite honest, no,” Ellis said. “The way he was training, he was training like a freak. I think he’s a really good horse.”

Ellis is not prone to hyperbole. When he says a horse is “really good,” take it to the bank. The Hardest Way, who drew post 7 in the field of eight, looks poised for victory in his first graded stakes.

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In addition to three-time graded winner American Anthem, last-out graded winner Cistron, and upstart The Hardest Way, the $200,000 Triple Bend also includes Law Abidin Citizen, Majestic Eagle, Nero, Air Strike, and All Out Blitz.

American Anthem and The Hardest Way bring similar form into the Triple Bend, race 8. Both are making their second start back. American Anthem was off nine months due to foot issues and returned with a sharp runner-up in an allowance race at Churchill Downs.

“He should have won,” trainer Bob Baffert said. He meant that American Anthem ran a winning race. He shook off two pace challenges, first from Conquest Tsunami, then War Giant, kicked away, and was collared. It was an excellent effort by American Anthem, who is 4 for 5 at seven furlongs and the class of the Triple Bend lineup.

The Hardest Way was purchased privately in early 2018 and sent to California, but Ellis suspected something was amiss.

“He just wasn’t travelling well, he was kind of ouchy,” Ellis said.

A nuclear scan revealed bone bruising, and The Hardest Way was sidelined.

“It was kind of a tough pill to swallow, when you just buy a horse and” he needs time, Ellis said. Templer and Ellis were rewarded for patience when The Hardest Way won the Keeneland allowance in a romp. His 103 Beyer was the highest of the day on a card that included five stakes and an allowance race won by Covfefe.

Assuming front-runners American Anthem and Cistron get in each other’s way, and The Hardest Way gets his expected in-the-clear trip, The Hardest Way can win the Triple Bend.