Hard Spun's Black Ops took home his second consecutive Budweiser Special Handicap at Albuquerque on August 30th. The dual Black Type winner brings his career earnings over $200,000 with this victory.
Tracking the early pace, Black Ops took control around the far turn and edged clear down the stretch to win by over a length in the seven-furlong contest for owner John Pinkerton and trainer Justin Evans.
Bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey Jr., Susie Keller, Vicki Oliver & G. Watts Humphrey III, Black Ops is one of four winners from four starters in his family. Out of the winning A.P. Indy mare Rendition, herself a half-sister to G2 winner Casino Host (Dynaformer), Black Ops' second dam, Ensenada (Seeking the Gold) is a full-sister to Sahara Gold, dam of G1 winner and millionaire Better Lucky (Ghostzapper).
Black Ops brings Hard Spun’s career Black Type winners tally to 83. His 2020 standouts include Antoinette, recent winner of the $500,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational, and Saratoga’s Alydar Stakes winner, Spinoff, as well as the G2 winning four-year-old filly Hard Not To Love. Hard Spun's current two-year-olds include ten-length Churchill debut winner and TDN Rising Star Beautiful Memories.
