King's Plate pedigree profile: Rafaroo

Rafaroo

Colt by Hard Spun – Light Green, by Pleasantly Perfect

Bred in Ontario by Adena Springs

Rafaroo is still a maiden, but gave a fine account of himself in his second career start, finishing second to My Boy Prince in the Plate Trial. The colt’s pedigree is a good blend of stamina over speed.

Hard Spun won the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at seven furlongs, but was also a multiple graded stakes winner around two turns, and was placed in major events including a runner-up effort in the 2007 Kentucky Derby. He has imparted top-class sprint ability to offspring, including Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Aloha West and Grade 1 winner Hard Not to Love. But overall, his progeny have excelled around two turns.

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He is the sire of Eclipse Award champion Questing; Grade 1-winning routers Hard Aces, Hard Not to Like, Hardest Core, Out for a Spun, Smooth Roller, Wicked Strong, and Zo Impressive; and graded stakes winner Two Phil’s, who was second in the 2023 Kentucky Derby. He is also the sire of Silver State, who won the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at a one-turn mile and was a graded winner at two turns, and Spun to Run, who took the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita.

Overall, the average winning distance for Hard Spun’s progeny is about 7.5 furlongs, a solid distance considering the preponderance of sprint races in North America.

Hard Spun balances out the speed of Light Green, who never missed the board. She was an eight-length winner of the Fall Aspen at six furlongs, and second in the Grade 1 Prioress, beaten less than a length. She is the dam of three winners from four starters. Her Grade 1-placed Green Light Go, a full brother to this colt, won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special and later the Stymie.

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