Hard West having hard time settling in at home

If there were a popularity contest featuring all the 2021 runners by Pleasant Acres’ stallions, Hard West would have to be a top contender. The 4-year-old son of Gone Astray has been a resident of so many barns this season, he no doubt feels like a foster child being shunted from one home to another.

The colt bred by JDBA Stables scored a wire-to-wire victory at Parx Racing yesterday, raising his career record to 5-2-4 in 24 starts. The winner’s check of $10,800 boosted his earnings to $74,306. This year alone, Hard West is 2-2-3 in 15 tries, with earnings of $39,311. As for his homes, he’ll have another this week via a claim out of yesterday’s race, after previously having been claimed on Jan. 20, June 7, Sept. 7 and Oct. 19.

Jeremy Laprida was aboard in Hard West’s latest victory, guiding the colt through fractions of :23.02, :46.48 and :58.18 and leaving his rivals in the dust as he crossed the finish line nearly five lengths in front, clocked in 1:04.39 for the 5 1/2 furlongs.