Since being claimed by trainer Mike Maker in May, the Hard Spun filly Desert Duchess has continued to improve with every race. And there was improvement yet again on November 4th – in her first career Stakes start – as she came from just off the pace to win the Cellars Shiraz Stakes at Gulfstream Park West.
As in her two most recent starts (both wins), the three-year-old raced near the leaders until the pack began to make the turn for home. She then made her winning move, taking the lead at the top of the stretch and maintained a comfortable margin to the wire.
Desert Duchess was bred in Kentucky by Mt .Brilliant Farm and Ranch, and is out of the Dynaformer mare Aventina. Aventina is a half to G3 winner Desert Air in addition to other Stakes winners Desert Demon and Sand Saint.
Hard Spun is now the sire of 61 career Stakes winners, a group that includes the likes of G1 winners Wicked Strong, Hard Not To Like and Hard Aces. No stallion standing for less than $75,000 can match his seven G1 winners since 2012 - equal to Curlin, Malibu Moon, and Giant’s Causeway, and more than Candy Ride, Tiznow, Distorted Humor, etc.
Hard Spun will stand the 2018 breeding season for a fee of $40,000 stands and nurses.
