Hard Aces broke on top and made every step a winning one with a gritty half-length victory in the twelve-furlong G3 Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar July 24.
The six-year-old horse by Hard Spun pushed his lifetime earnings to just shy of $1 million, and improved his overall record to seven wins, five seconds, and eight third-place finishes in 33 starts.
Breaking alertly under jockey Santiago Gonzalez, Hard Aces went straight to the front and opened up a five-length lead on the rest of the field. Going into the clubhouse turn and entering the backstretch, Gonzalez then slowed down the pace aboard the front-running Hard Aces, maintaining a steady gallop while allowing the competition to draw within a half-length.
On the far turn, Hard Aces was joined by Quick Casablanca, and the pair battled neck-and-neck through the stretch. Nearing the wire, Hard Aces put away his rival and edged clear to win by a half-length.
Bred in Kentucky by Dreamchaser Thorobreds, Hard Aces is out of the winning Quiet American mare, All In With Aces. His second dam is Aces (by Housebuster), winner of the Listed Astoria Stakes.
Hard Spun enjoyed a terrific year in 2015, siring G1 winners Hard Not To Like, Smooth Roller, and Ertijaal, in addition to Hard Aces. Hard Spun has sired nine Stakes winners so far this year, including such standouts as Le Romain, winner of the G1 Randwick Guineas and Fursa, winner of the G2 SA Fillies Nursery.
