Hard Spun--Retro?

[LB]

There's an interesting article at the BloodHorse blogs about Hard Spun's offspring many of whom exhibit the blocky, chunky, Northern Dancer body type which the author comments is currently out of favor. Today's buyers and racehorse owners, she says, want a long, lean, racy, look. Comments?

The article is here: http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/hammerti ... Again.aspx

[Derby2004]

buyers want a horse that looks like it will break down in a year or so. thats what ive always wondered, why do they want babies by sires that time and time again have progency start 3 -9 times and end up in the breeding shed to pass on the unsoundness to their babies. hard spun will be the leading freshman sire. he was precocious, versatile and could carry his speed distances. hes my pick for next year. hes a good bet at 35k. even though he only started 13 times, he raced against the best every time out. he comes from a great family of classic winners that have turned out to be good stallions also. little current, chateaugay, primonetta are all close up in his pedigree. so he has the looks, the ability and family behind him. plus being that next year is his bubble year, ill bet you can get him for way less that 35. especially if henny, rockport harbor and bernardini dont start doing somehting

[Firebrand]

LB,

I was just about to post about this same article. I thought it was very interesting to read that buyer's are now wanting the longer, leaner body types instead of the more muscled, quarter horse type sprinters. When did the winds change? The Zenyatta and Rachael Alexander body types seem to be quickly influencing this new trend.

Hopefully this will bring some stamina back into American racing, but it also makes racing more interesting to have a variety of racehorse types, styles and proficiencies. They don't all have to be stamped out of the same mold.

[LB]

I was just about to post about this same article. I thought it was very interesting to read that buyer's are now wanting the longer, leaner body types instead of the more muscled, quarter horse type sprinters. When did the winds change?

Well of course that was simply the writer's opinion. I wouldn't necessarily agree. And certainly the Hard Spuns that were offered at the Fasig Tipton sale were very well received (9 offered, 6 sold, 140K average.) So that kind of refutes her argument, doesn't it?

[foxtale]

I saw the Hard Spuns as weanlings and thought they were small...

HOWEVER...the yearlings represented at Saratoga were STUNNING! Tall , elegant and well muscled and correct.

[LB]

I saw the Hard Spuns as weanlings and thought they were small...

HOWEVER...the yearlings represented at Saratoga were STUNNING! Tall , elegant and well muscled and correct.

However only 3 sold out of 8 offered.

[bdw0617]

the one i saw, hip 10 something, like 104 or whatever, imho looked like crap. sorry and i'm hard spuns biggest fan but he just looked like a train wreck to me. just crooked as crooked could be.

[Fireslam]

Hip 106, the one who sold for $350,000?

Okay....

[zinn21]

I'm a big Hard Spun fan and think he will get very competitive runners. Haven't seen any yet; hopefully soon.

[LB]

I'm a big Hard Spun fan and think he will get very competitive runners. Haven't seen any yet; hopefully soon.

Here's ours:

[oliverstoned]

I'm liking that guy, how old is he there LB?

[LB]

Thanks oliverstoned.

He was almost 5 months old when the picture was taken.

[ASB]

Good looking colt.

Here's a yearling entered in the OBS sale.

[LB]

That's a good looking colt too--if somewhat atypical compared to most of the Hard Spuns I've seen.

[da hossman]

I find it interesting that this article was written now as if the change in physical preference was recent....Unbridled may have been the start of the scopey trend, carried on by the racing success of Real Quiet, and the ever controversial Unbridled's Song. Just look at Baffert's rapid body-type progression from Thirty Slews to Real Quiet and Congaree. Granted Congaree was a homebred for Stonerside but they planned to sell him (crooked) until Baffert looked at him on the farm.

Regarding the Hard Spun's, I think his foals may be physically favoring their dams more than their sire from what I have seen. Saratoga 21 ($190,000 RNA) was a nice, leggy sort but then again she is out of a Capote mare.

LB yours is spectacular! Congratulations.