Hard Love remains on target for Turf Triple start in G1 Belmont Derby
At 0h02, on June 14, 2021 • By BELMONT PARK
Trainer Jonathan Thomas didn’t get the prep race he initially had in mind for Robert LaPenta, Augustin Stable and Madaket Stables’ Hard Love, but said he still plans on running the talented son of Kitten’s Joy in the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational, first leg of the Turf Triple series, on July 10.
Hard Love was entered in the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge on May 29, but scratched when inclement weather forced the event onto the main track. Thomas went to Plan B and ran Hard Love in a nine-furlong allowance optional claiming race against older horses on the turf in the Belmont Stakes Day finale on June 5.
Piloted by Manny Franco, Hard Love tracked the pace from second, battled to the outside of pacesetter Desert Peace in the stretch drive, and prevailed by a head.
“We felt like we had him ready for the Pennine Ridge,” Thomas said. “It was a bit of a gut punch having it come off the turf, so we were lucky the allowance race was in the book. We felt like we got a nice prep into him for the Belmont Derby. Based off what we’ve seen, it looks like the further the better. He is an efficient moving horse, and his pedigree suggests the further the better. He should appreciate the added distance.”
Thomas is targeting a second Belmont Derby victory having won in 2018 with the versatile Catholic Boy, who proceeded to win the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers that year.
