Hard Spun runs away with Lane's End Stakes

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Florence, KY (Sports Network) - Hard Spun, ridden by Mario Pino, ran away down the stretch to win Saturday's $500,000 Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park. The 1 1/8 race for three-year-olds comes six weeks before the Kentucky Derby.

Sent off as the 5-2 favorite in the 12 horse field, Hard Spun proved that an outside post would be no problem. He broke from post 10 and easily moved to the front of field. The outside post in his last start may have been a factor in the disappointing fourth place finish in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Hard Spun raced on the outside in third around the first turn and up the backstretch. The pace was set by Starbase with Bullara pressing the leader. Hard Spun was never more than two lengths off the lead.

Entering the final turn Hard Spun drew even with the leaders from the outside. He assumed the lead coming off the turn and proceeded to take control.

Owned by Rick Porter, Hard Spun posted a 3 1/4 length triumph over Sedgefield with Joe Got Even finishing third.

The time for the Lane's End was 1:49.41 on the all-weather track.

Completing the order of finish was For You Reppo, Starbase, Twilight Meteor, Highest Degree, Sports Town, Approval Rating, Bullara, Helios and Forefathers.

The $300,000 that Hard Spun earns with the win brings his career bankroll to $473,470. More important the money comes from a graded stakes that should get him into the Kentucky Derby. He has $360,000 from graded stakes races.

Trained by Larry Jones, Hard Spun is now set to race at Keeneland in the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes on April 14.

Hard Spun returned $7.20, $4.60 and $4.80. Sedgefield paid $11.20 and $6.00, and Joe Got Even paid $6.80 to show.

In the supporting $100,000 Rushaway Stakes, Dominican came from off the pace to post a five length victory. The three-year-old was ridden by Rafael Bejarano for trainer Darrin Miller.

The Rushaway was Dominican's first start of 2007.

"We were hoping to start him earlier in the year," said Miller, "but it didn't work out. He's a very workmanlike horse and very easy to ride."

Trust Your Luck finished second in the 1 1/16 mile race with Reata's Rocket third in the 10 horse field. The time for the race was 1:43.50.