Hard Spun was heavily scrutinized following his fourth-place finish in the Southwest at Oaklawn last month, but that race has turned into a distant memory for his connections after galloping home a 3 ¼ length winner in the $500,000 Lane's End (GII) Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

The last few weeks had been anxious ones for owner Rick Porter and trainer Larry Jones, who took his star colt from his regular Oaklawn base and brought him north to train over the Polytrack at Turfway. After a pair of very swift moves in the morning, the decision seemed the right one, but ultimately wouldn't be verified until he ran in the Lane's End.

Hard Spun drew post 10 this past Wednesday, but that didn't seem to be a problem as the field broke from the gate for the 1 1/8 miles race. Jockey Mario Pino was three wide going into the first turn, but had his horse under a stout restraint as longshot Starbase and Bullara battled it out just to his inside. The trio continued together down the length of the backstretch, getting the six furlongs in a solid 1:11.62. Around the far turn, Hard Spun went to the lead on his own, with Pino sitting silently.

Bullara was the first to crack after the quick pace, and the closers started to move in on Starbase as Hard Spun pulled away entering the stretch, widening to the final margin.

Sedgefield, who broke from the far outside in the field of 12, was making a solid move but couldn't get to the winner. He was well clear of third place finisher Joe Got Even, beating that one by the same 3-¼ lengths between first and second. In an unusual twist, it was the same distance between Joe Got Even and For You Reppo in fourth. Starbase, Twilight Meteor, Highest Degree, Sports Town, Approval Rating, Bullara, Helios, and Forefathers completed the order of finish.

With seven weeks before the Kentucky Derby, Jones was looking at one more race for Hard Spun. "More than likely, and in a perfect world, our next start will be in the Blue Grass. He seems to like Polytrack and Keeneland is almost like home. We definitely want one more prep. Hopefully we can have him ready to peak in two more races. We all agreed that he was not getting over the Oaklawn track. Thank goodness we had the opportunity to come here.”

Hard Spun paid $7.20, $4.60, and $4.80. Sedgefield returned $11.20 and $6.00. Joe Got Even paid $6.80 to show. The $2 exacta was worth $96.60.

Dominican easy winner in Rushaway

In the other Kentucky Derby prep on Turfway's Saturday card, Dominican won the first stakes race of his career when he easily defeated Trust Your Luck by five lengths in the $100,000 Rushaway Stakes.

"I was very impressed with his tenacity and professionalism off the layoff," said Dominican's trainer Darrin Miller. "He did that really easy."

Racing for Bonnie and Tommy Hamilton's Silverton Hill, Dominican was making his 3-year-old debut after running third to Tiz Wonderful and Any Given Saturday in his last start, the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Nov. 25.

"He had a lung issue with some other things, so we gelded him and saw improvement right away," Miller said of Dominican's layoff.

Ridden by jockey Rafael Bejarano, Dominican angled out in midstretch and finished fast to win going away. Trust Your Luck held off Reata's Rocket by a half-length for second. Final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:43.50.

"At the 3/8ths pole I thought we were in the perfect position, but we had to wait a little bit," Bejarano said. "He took off very nicely. He's a very good horse."

Sent off as the 7-2 second choice, Dominican paid $9.80, $5.40, and $3.60. Race favorite Meritocracy set the pace but tired to finish seventh.

The order of finish in the Rushaway: Dominican, Trust Your Luck, Reata's Rocket, Skip Code, Passport, Eighteenthofmarch, Meritocracy, Head to Toe, Dubious Miss, and Pink Viper. Poe Reef scratched.