By Mike Kane
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Though Rigney Racing's Played Hard (Into Mischief) will miss the GII Shuvee because of a fever, trainer Phillip Bauer said Friday that she might run in the GI Personal Ensign on Aug. 25.
Bauer said it's a moving target that he could set his sights on.
“We'll hopefully get time to get a breeze into her next week and see what she does,” he said.
Another possible start could be in the GIII Locust Grove on Sept. 16 at Churchill Downs in the race she won last year.
Played Hard was found to have the fever before Bauer entered her Thursday in the Shuvee, where the GI La Troienne winner would have faced Clairiere (Curlin) and Nest (Curlin). He said she bounced back quickly after receiving treatment.
“She's good,” he said. “It was one of those things that maybe we could have entered and ran, but if she did run bad, then you're mad at yourself. So, with that caliber horse you've got to do the right thing.”
The Shuvee was the race Played Hard was pointed to after her third-place finish in the GI Ogden Phipps on June 10, with the Personal Ensign an option.
“It wasn't 100% sure,” he said, “but it was definitely something that we're considering between that and the Locust Grove. It might be a blessing in disguise.
It seems like her races, when she comes back in four weeks aren't her best. So maybe skipping this heat, maybe we'll run into a situation like last year where Clairiere doesn't fire her shot in the next month. It's one of those deals. We'll be fine. We'll just play the hand we're dealt and move on.”
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