7th-Santa Anita, $54,272, Alw (NW2$X)/Opt. Clm ($62,500), 10-25, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.11, ft.
HARD NOT TO LOVE (f, 3, Hard Spun–Loving Vindication, by Vindication) , anointed a TDN Rising Star courtesy of an impressive three-length score over this track and trip Feb. 16, was let go at generous 9-2 odds given the presence of fellow TDN Rising Star Anuket (Pioneerof the Nile), who was pounded down to 1-5 favoritism following her equally impressive debut last December. Stumbling out of the gate, Hard Not to Love found herself in fourth as Love a Honeybadger (Bushwacker) carved out a sharp quarter in :22.23 with Anuket in hot pursuit. Menacing the leaders as she closed wide, Hard Not to Love took over midstretch and held closing Madame Vestal (Into Mischief) safe by 3/4 of a length at the wire. Anuket was a head back in third. Subsequent to her Rising Star-earning debut, Hard Not to Love added a win in a Santa Anita optional claimer in April before finishing third most recently in the Angel Flight S. while trying a furlong farther here in May. She is a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year, Ch. 2yo & 3yo Filly Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d'Oro), MGSW & GISP, $1,524,861 and to stakes winner and graded-stakes placed Solemn Tribute (Medaglia d'Oro), $181,234. Loving Vindication produced a colt by Bodemeister in 2017 and a filly by Nyquist in 2018. Anderson Farms purchased the mare for $180,000 at the 2011 Keeneland January sale and the 14-year-old mare, in foal to Curlin, RNA'd for $1.45 million at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale. Her Bodemeister colt sold for $300,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale. After foaling a Curlin colt this season, she was bred back to Medaglia d'Oro. Sales history: $400,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, $108,480. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Mercedes Stables LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, Scott Dilworth, Dorothy Ingordo, David Ingordo and Steve Mooney; B-Anderson Farms Ont. Inc. (ON); T-John A. Shirreffs.
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