Alysse Jacobs Photo

Hard Study continues long-distance success in Flat Out victory

by Brian Bohl

Paul Pompa, Jr.'s Hard Study continued to capitalize on an eight-month freshening, going 2-for-2 in his 2018 campaign after posting a 5 ¼-length win in the third running of the $100,000 Flat Out for 4-year-olds and up on Friday at Belmont Park.

Breaking from the rail, jockey Manny Franco was content to let Hard Study stay well off the pace of the 1 3/8-mile route on the main track as Harlan Punch provided the pace, going the opening quarter-mile in 25:08 seconds and the half in 51:23.

Out of the final turn, Franco geared down Hard Study, who surged to the front and cruised in outkicking Zanotti, hitting the wire in 2:17.02 on Big Sandy.

Hard Study won for the third straight time for trainer Todd Pletcher. The 5-year-old son of Big Brown received a break after ending his 4-year-old season with a win in the Birdstone on August 3 at Saratoga Race Course and came back to win against allowance company on March 30 at Gulfstream Park.

"I wanted to hold my position in the beginning," said Franco, who had four wins on the day. "I let him break out of there and see where I was after three or four jumps. It worked out pretty good. He's a nice horse, and Todd always does a good job. This is the kind of distance he wants to go. More distance is better for him."

Off as the 3-5 favorite, Hard Study paid $3.30 on a $2 win wager and improved his career earnings to $359,400. He has won five of his last six starts, all at distances of at least 1 1/16 miles.

"I thought he broke well," said Byron Hughes, assistant to Pletcher. "Manny and I talked in the paddock and we wanted him to get into a nice rhythm throughout and I thought Manny did a good job with that. Up the backside, you could see he was making his way to the outside to make sure he had enough room to clear horses, which he did. And, turning for home, he ended up splitting horses and it all worked out well and he kicked on. It was a nice win."

Zanotti, trained by Juan Carlos Guerrero, has finished second in four consecutive races.

Backsideofthemoon finished third while Carlino, Harlan Punch, Turco Bravo and Scuba completed the order of finish. Watershed was scratched.