As far as the viewing public was concerned, it was Medaglia d'Oro's son Endorsed the one to beat in the Listed Alydar Stakes at Saratoga on August 9th as the field of five entered the gate. Fast forward one minute and forty-nine seconds later and it was another Darley-sired runner that proved the best, Hard Spun's four-year-old son Spinoff.
As per his regular stalking style, Spinoff wasn't hurried for first two splits of the Alydar, settling into the fourth spot and then the show position as the field passed the half-mile pole, then into third at the half with Endorsed close behind. He steadily improved his position as the field entered the turn then surged to the lead entering the stretch. Endorsed was the best of the rest but no match for the winner.
Spinoff was bred by his owner, Wertheimer et Frere, in Kentucky. He is out of the G1-winning Gone West mare Zaftig who has also produced Stakes-placed Rugbyman. Second dam Zoftig won the G1 Selene and is also the dam of the G1-winning Zo Impressive, also by Hard Spun. Zo Impressive, in turn, is the dam of G2 winner Souper Tapit.
Hard Spun is the sire of 12 other Stakes horses in 2020, including G1 winner Hard Not To Love, She was one of his three top-level winner in 2019 along with Out For A Spin and Spun To Run. Only Curlin could match Hard Spun's five Graded Stakes-winning three-year-olds in 2019.
