Hard to Deny gets back on dirt

Hard to Deny could be just that when he returns to Emerald Downs on Saturday.

Last year, Hard to Deny reeled off back-to-back wins at Emerald before going unplaced in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile. He looks like a major force in a conditioned allowance race for 3-year-olds and up that will serve as the featured event on an eight-race card that begins at 2:15 p.m. Pacific. There is a $40,000 claiming option available in the six-furlong dash that drew six horses.

Hard to Deny will appreciate being able to hear his feet rattle after finishing fourth going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf in a conditioned allowance race March 14 at Turf Paradise for trainer Niccolo Troiani. It was his second try on turf, and in his previous race on grass he finished fifth going the same distance at the same level Nov. 19 at Turf Paradise. Between the two races, he paid $31.40 for his game win going a mile on the main track in a conditioned allowance race that carried a $50,000 claiming option on Dec. 13 and then finished third as the favorite in a similar race Jan 5.

A 6-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Hard Spun, Hard to Deny earned his way into the Longacres Mile with a win going a mile in a conditioned allowance race on July 8 before repeating in an open allowance race at the same distance July 24.

In all three of his wins at the one-mile distance, Hard to Deny has been first or second at the half-mile call. He also took them all the way when he won a $25,000 maiden claimer at Emerald in 2020.

It is safe to say Juan Gutierrez will try to put him in the mix after he breaks from post 5. Other speed may make his task difficult, and he does seem a bit better going around two turns at this point in his career.

The shape of the race could work for the Frank Lucarelli-trained Mr. Stang, who can stalk and is coming off a thirdplace finish over a wet-fast track in a first-level allowance race with a $30,000 claiming option in his first try at Emerald on June 5. It was a decent field, and the runner-up, El Alto Hombre, came back to win at the same level June 19.

A 4-year-old California-bred gelding by Atta Boy Roy, Mr. Stang won a conditioned allowance race with a $15,000 claiming option in his previous race May 2 at Turf Paradise. He will break from post 4 with Jose Zunino up and could get a nice trip sitting just off what figures to be an honest and contested pace.

A case can be made for all of the horses entered.

Defense Wins, trained by James Gilmour, should be rolling late with leading rider Alex Cruz aboard.

Democrat is a lightly raced 4-year-old who is trending in the right direction for trainer Debbie Peery.

Forever Gold, trained by Howard Belvoir, is capable of taking them all the way if he gets the jump on the other speed. If not, he could help set up his stablemate, Muncey, who can stalk.