Now Spun, now a Stakes winner

Making his first start since breaking his maiden in England last October, Godolphin’s three-year-old Hard Spun colt came ready to run in the Meydan Classic, February 28, giving his sire his 18th career stakes winner and third in the new year.

Trained by Mahmoud Al Zarooni, the sophomore bay bided his time just off the leaders throughout most of the one-mile turf event. As the field quickened into the lane, Now Spun was quickest of all and pulled away for a solid victory approaching the wire.

A winner now in two of three career starts, Now Spun was produced from the winning A.P. Indy mare Campionessa, a daughter of Pacific Squall, winner of the G1 Hollywood Oaks. He was bred by Hickstead Farm in Florida and was a $290,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sales graduate.

Hard Spun is North American’s leading active third-crop sire in 2013 and is also represented this year by G3 winner Hard Not To Like and other Stakes winner Royal Haunt. Now Spun is the first stakes winner from his sire’s second crop. His 24 Norhtern Hemisphere Stakes horses from his first crop make him the most successful first crop sire ever at this point in his career.