Played Hard took the lead entering the stretch and repelled a late charge from 2022 Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Secret Oath win the May 5 La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs. It was the first grade 1 win for the 5-year-old Into Mischief mare, as well as for her 38-year-old trainer, Louisville native Phil Bauer.
Under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, aboard for the first time, Played Hard stalked just off the flank of pacesetter Society, who clocked fractions of :23.53, :47.28, and 1:11.55.
Velazquez pushed to the lead approaching the quarter pole but knew he would have to fight off the late runners. Secret Oath came charging on the outside, while Search Results made a bid along the rail.
"She's very brave," Velazquez said. "All the credit goes to Mr. Phil Bauer and his team. She's been working really good, and I didn't know if she had enough to beat Secret Oath today. But she put in a couple of good works here. I knew she was going to run well. The whole team did such a great job, to get her ready after a long layoff, and to run with this horse."
Played Hard completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.48, a neck in front of Secret Oath. Those two were toward the middle of the track as Search Results dug in alone on the rail but could not get up, finishing another half-length back in third.
"I think the key to this filly is to sit the trip and take the trip," Bauer said. "(Velazquez) did a marvelous job in the first turn to navigate and to hold the position. And when she felt the heat of the quarter pole she's game. I really did not think we had her 100% cranked. That was all her."
Some bumping in the stretch elicited an objection from Secret Oath's rider Tyler Gaffalione but there was no change.
"It felt a lot worse than it looked," Gaffalione said after seeing a replay of the stretch run. "We came together and my filly lost her hind end but it was probably just her getting tired at that point."
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas felt the incident was severe enough that it could have affected the outcome.
"She ran her heart out," Lukas said. "I think that little brush broke her momentum just enough that her stride changed a little bit. I can see why they left it up but I can see why they'd take it down. It was a tough call by the stewards."
Search Results also was close up throughout under Flavien Prat and had no excuse.
"She broke sharp and settled perfectly to save ground," Prat said. "She was in good position and began to make her run but after a long layoff fell a touch short."
Search Results was making her 5-year-old debut in her first start since running sixth in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1)
"She got a good trip there and saved all the ground on the inside. She came up a length short in the end. She hadn't run since the Breeders' Cup, and I think she'll tighten up good from this."
Brown said Search Results would likely show up next in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on Belmont Stakes (G1) day.
With her first grade 1 score, Played Hard became a millionaire with $1,420,140 in earnings from a record of 6-5-2 in 15 starts. It was her third stakes win at Churchill Downs and her fourth win from nine tries in Louisville.
Played Hard returned $19.86.
It was an emotional winner's circle for owner Richard Rigney of Rigney Racing, who with his wife, Tammi, has 28 horses in Bauer's care. The trainer got choked up talking to reporters about getting his first grade 1 at his hometown track on its biggest weekend.
"Boy, this is what we're in this for and, you know, I've dreamt about this and it's pretty cool," Bauer said. "I don't really know how to sum it up right now but it's pretty awesome.
"We always thought she'd get better with distance and age. Good horses kind of take care of themselves and put you in spots where they belong, and sometimes you don't think they do.
"I went to bed many nights dreaming of this moment. Horse racing can be like climbing Mount Everest. Today, I feel like we've made it to the top. As a Louisville guy, this means everything to me. It's so hard to put into words what Tammi and Richard Rigney mean to me. They've supported me through the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows."
Bred in Kentucky by Susan Casner, Played Hard is out of the Tiznow mare Well Lived, a full sister to Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Well Armed. The dam has two foals to race from five foals, with Played Hard being her sole winner. Her youngest foal is a 2023 unnamed Constitution colt.
Played Hard was a $280,000 purchase from the 2019 September Yearling Sale at Keeneland by her owner from the Four Star Sales consignment.
