Choklitz noted that the TVG broadcast of the Kentucky Cup mentioned that Hard Spun was pretty wound up before the race, and it reminded me of his antics in the paddock before the King’s Bishop. You won’t be able to tell really from these photos, but he was wildly impatient…I titled the two photos “frisky Hard Spun” and “impatient Hard Spun.” He was so keyed up that a friend of mine threw him out based on his behavior in the paddock alone; as I noted to the commenter, a few minutes later said friend was swallowing hard as he ate his words. I didn’t see Hard Spun in the paddock at the Belmont–is this behavior characteristic? Please weigh in; clearly it augurs well for the guy.

It’s a little sad for this Brooklynite to see the focus of racing shift westward from New York to Kentucky, but some NY favorites will be in action this weekend at Keeneland. I made my first trip there last April and hope to swing out for a weekend this meet, but I’m not sure that’s going to be possible. We’ve still got Grade I’s at Belmont this weekend, each at a mile on the dirt: the Frizette for the girls and the Champagne for the boys. More on them in the next few days.