Free As A Bird flies home in the Captiva Island

Six-year old Hard Spun mare Free As A Bird captured her sixth Stakes win in a row on March 18th with an exciting come-from-behind score in the Captiva Island Handicap at Gulfstream.

In the five-furlong turf sprint, Free As A Bird broke slowly and was near the back of the pack early.  She started to make up ground around the turn but ran into traffic at the top of the stretch and had to steady hard before swinging to the far outside.  Once clear, she flew home to win by a half-length under Joel Rosario. 

Free As A Bird is out of G3 Forward Gal Stakes winner and G1 Ashland Stakes-placed Take The Cake, who has also produced Stakes winner Let Me Entertain U.  She is a homebred for Elizabeth Jones Valando and is trained by Ian Wilkes.

Hard Spun is the sire of five G1 winners to date, including last year’s G1 Arlington Million winner Hardest Core, G1 Wood Memorial victor Wicked Strong, and 2012 Eclipse Champion three-year-old filly Questing.  His recent winners include G3 UAE 2000 Guineas winner and Kentucky Derby hopeful Maftool and Louisiana Handicap winner Hard Aces.

Hard Spun stands the 2015 breeding season for $35,000 live foal, stands and nurses.