Spun Intended | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Rising Star’ Rates Big Shot Against Baffert Foursome in Sham

Bob Baffert supplies two-thirds of the field for Sunday's GIII Sham S. at Santa Anita, but he is no slam dunk to walk away with a record-extending ninth renewal of the event, given the imposing presence of 'TDN Rising Star' Spun Intended (Hard Spun).

The chestnut had a bit of buzz about him ahead of his Oct. 30 debut over 6 1/2 furlongs of this main track, and he nearly overcame a slow start and wide trip to run Fort Warren (Curlin) to a half-length, a performance that was also deemed 'Rising Star'-worthy. Pounded down to 4-5 over the same trip at Del Mar Nov. 26, the $100,000 Keeneland September yearling and $125,000 OBS March bargain made light work of eight other rivals, graduating by a widening 6 1/2 lengths. Hall of Famer Mike Smith sticks around for this first two-turn voyage.

The task at hand certainly is not an easy one, as Spun Intended hooks GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile third National Treasure (Quality Road) in his sophomore bow. Having defeated future GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner Practical Move (Practical Joke) into third on his Sept. 3 unveiling at Del Mar, the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad found only stablemate and 'TDN Rising Star' Cave Rock (Arrogate) too strong in the GI American Pharoah S. next time out and was beaten under four lengths behind likely champion Forte (Violence) in the Juvenile. The blinkers that went on for that try come off Sunday.

The Baffert shedrow is also set to be represented by the rail-drawn 'Rising Star' and recent GIII Bob Hope S. runner-up Newgate (Into Mischief); Speed Boat Beach (Bayern), who Beyered 104 when debuting on dirt at the seaside oval Sept. 10 and who exits a game victory in the grassy GIII Cecil B. DeMille S. Dec. 4; and Reincarnate (Good Magic), who broke his maiden going two turns at Del Mar Nov. 25.

The Sham field is completed by Packs a Wahlop (Creative Cause), a two-time graded winner on the turf.

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Hard Spun Colt Earns ‘Rising Star’ Laurels at Del Mar

Edge Racing and Muir Hut Stables' Spun Intended (c, 2, Hard Spun–Flora Dora, by First Dude) ran too good to lose his Oct. 30 debut at Santa Anita, just failing to overcome a brutal trip when dropping a half-length decision to the well-meant Fort Warren (Curlin). The latter earned the 'TDN Rising Star' nod for the win and Saturday afternoon, Spun Intended followed suit with a 'Rising Star'-worthy performance of his own where the surf meets the turf.

Spun Intended was off slowly in that Oct. 30 bow and was last of the octet early before improving on the turn while conceding stacks of ground. He knuckled down determinedly in the final furlong and was gaining inches on Fort Warren, but the wire came a few strides too soon. The chestnut had done his part since with a pair of solid morning trials and never looked like losing Saturday.

Sent off at odds of 4-5 that represented an overlay, the $100,000 Keeneland September yearling and $125,000 OBS March breezer (:21 1/5) showed good pace from gate four and advanced without being asked for much by Mike Smith to take up the running after an opening couple of furlongs in :21.95. Hugging the fence into the final five-sixteenths of a mile, having cut the half-mile in a slick :44.20, Spun Intended was a bit tardy in switching his leads, but carried an unassailable advantage into the final panel and trotted in to score by 6 1/2 emphatic lengths.

Spun Intended is an 11th 'TDN Rising Star' for Hard Spun and is the first foal out of Flora Dora, winner of the 2015 My Dear Girl S. of the Florida Stallion Series and the 2016 Busanda S. She was also third to Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) in that year's GI CCA Oaks. A half-sister to SW Lindisfarne (City Zip), Flora Dora is the dam of a yearling Nyquist colt that was bought back on a bid of $185,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Her foal of 2022 is a filly by Gun Runner and she was most recently bred to Candy Ride (Arg).

6th-Del Mar, $72,000, Msw, 11-26, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:15.83, ft, 6 1/2 lengths.
SPUN INTENDED, c, 2, by Hard Spun
1st Dam: Flora Dora (MSW & GISP, $607,152), by First Dude
2nd Dam: Aidan, by Dixieland Band
3rd Dam: Poseida (Chi), by Pick Up (Chi)
Sales history: $100,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $125,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $54,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Edge Racing & Muir Hut Stables, LLC; B-Coffee Pot Stables (KY); T-Mark Glatt.

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Curlin Colt Fights For ‘TDN Rising Star’ Honors

Fort Warren (c, 2, Curlin–La Appassionata, by Bernardini), a $550,000 Keeneland September yearling acquisition, took race-long pressure through fast internal fractions and clung on gamely late to graduate at first asking Sunday at Santa Anita en route to the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction. He is the 22nd 'Rising Star' for his leading Hill 'n' Dale-based stallion.

Away only fairly from the inside gate, Fort Warren had to be used some by go-to rider Juan Hernandez, but speared through to take up the running and covered the opening couple of furlongs in a slick :21.75, with second-time starter Johannes (Nyquist) glued to his flank. Ridden along on the turn while maintaining a narrow advantage, Fort Warren always appeared to be going slightly better than Johannes after a half in a testing :44.65, but that duo soon had company in the form of the well-meant firster Spun Intended (Hard Spun), who sat a wide trip near the tail early on before coming into the race nicely, having covered significant ground on the turn. Fort Warren turned back the Johannes challenge once and for all in upper stretch, but Spun Intended refused to go down without a fight, as he battled bravely for every yard, only to drop a long-neck decision.

“This horse, being by Curlin, they're not supposed to have that kind of speed, but he's a beautiful horse and we're excited about him,” said winning trainer Bob Baffert. “That was a tough field…Having the one-hole and having to go that fast early and then he would let that horse get past him. He showed a lot of grit.”

The Feb. 11 foal is the lone listed produce for his SW/GSP dam, a full-sister to GSW Wilburn and a half to Grade II-winning juvenile Beethoven (Sky Mesa) and to the dam of GSW Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), who sadly passed away after foaling Fort Warren in 2020. Moonlight Sonata, who won the GIII Arlington-Washington Lassie S. at odds of 60-1 in 2002 for trainer Bill Helmbrecht, is also the dam of $1.1-million KEESEP yearling A.P. Sonata (A.P. Indy), whose son Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro) won this year's GIII Kitten's Joy S. for Whisper Hill Farm and was a latest third in the GII Hill Prince S. at Aqueduct. Stonestreet purchased Moonlight Sonata for $750,000 carrying the filly that would become La Appassionata at Keeneland November in 2012. This is also the family of champion Abel Tasman (Quality Road).

The cross of Curlin over A.P. Indy-line mares has resulted in countless winners at the graded level and, when bred specifically to Bernardini dams, Curlin is responsible for MGISW and GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff hopeful Clairiere, GISW Paris Lights and other graded winners Cezanne and 'Rising Star' Spice Is Nice.

6th-Santa Anita, $62,500, Msw, 10-30, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:15.92, ft, 1/2 length.
FORT WARREN, c, 2, by Curlin
1st Dam: La Appassionata (SW & GSP, $162,920), by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Moonlight Sonata, by Carson City
3rd Dam: Wheatly Way, by Wheatly Hall
Sales history: $550,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC & Catherine Donovan; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

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