In the equestrian arena, there can have many unpredictable moments on the racetrack. These last-minute incidents can sometimes alter the results of the game. On the same note, one such incident took place recently when a legendary equine athlete had to opt out of the race. The reason for the same raises concern for the mare. She was taken out of the race at the last minute and will miss a major stakes race in New York.

The news is spreading like wildfire on the internet as she missed a Grade II race, and another horse will be sent as a last-minute replacement to participate in the equestrian contest.

Another equestrian mishap

As reported by DRF, Played Hard, who is a multiple stakes winner, will be missing Sunday’s Grade II Shuvee Stakes worth over $200,000. Citing the reasons for the same, her trainer Phil Bauer stated, “We’re going to have to skip it, nature of the beast,” He further added. “She spiked a little temperature; we gotta back up and punt and see how quick she bounces back. She worked well up here and was going to be the pace. That was not a phone call I wanted to have to make to the owner.”

After her miss, she was replaced by Skratch Kat, and later the race was run by four horses, including Nest, the filly champion of 2022; Clairiere, who was the winner of the Shuvee stakes last year and has multiple Grade 1 wins to his name; and Pistol Liz Ablazen. On June 10, Played Hard participated in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps and was placed third. In her 3 years of equestrian career, she has achieved so much and is still going strong on the track.

The career and statistics of Played Hard

Played Hard started her career in 2021, and in a total of 16 starts, she has 6 firsts, 5 seconds, and 3 thirds, and in 2023, she has a total of 2 starts with 1 first and 1 third. She has career earnings of $1,480,140, of which $501,750 came in 2023. Sired by Into Mischief and out of the Tiznow mare Well Lived, he is owned by the racing company of Richard and Tammy Rigney, Rigney Racing LLC.

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Her trainer, Phil Bauer, has a total of 119 firsts in 875 starts with a career win total of $9,716,221. She has raced at racetracks like Belmont Park, Aqueduct, Churchill Downs, Saratoga, etc. Her major stakes wins include Grade I stakes La Troienne, 2022 Falls City (G3), and 2022 Locust Grove (G3). Regardless of what happened in her recent outing, her equestrian achievements stand still and speak volumes about this five-year-old’s equestrian talent.

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