Michael Matz will send out Hard Not to Like in the Marshua’s River Stakes

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Michael Matz will send out Hard Not to Like in the Marshua’s River Stakes
Winner of three in seven career starts, the 4-year-old filly, Hard Not to Like returns to the races in the Grade 3 Marshua’s River after a seven month layoff, after a chip was taken out of her knee last summer.
Hillsbrook Farm owned Hard Not to Like was trained by Gail Cox, but she was sent to Michael Matz’s barn after returning from surgery this fall. Hard Not to Like made her last start last year in May, when she had an unlucky trip at Churchill Downs, where she finished sixth to winner Believe You Can in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks going 1 1/8 miles.
Michael Matz may not have Union Rags in his barn, but he still has a few surprises up his sleeve this winter, and going into the Gulfstream meet he will be equipped with some nice runners, including Hard Not to Like.
“I think they took a chip out of her knee last summer,” said Matz. “She got a break and I was pleased when Mr. Williamson called me up, said he wanted her to come to Florida for the winter, and asked if I’d take her.”
Bred in Kentucky by Garland Williamson, Hard Not to Like relishes the turf course, and she is returning to the scene once more after a line start on dirt. All her three victories have come on turf. She defeated maidens at first asking at Woodbine, and then on the same track win an Allowance race over one mile.
She then won the Cup and Saucer Stakes going over a distance of 1 1/16 miles, and prior to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, she finished second to winner Karlovy Vary in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland’s synthetic surface.
Trainer Michael Matz is without last year's Kentucky Derby early favourite Union Rags, and this time last year he was facing immense media attention because of his star colt.
“It’s pretty quiet up here so far this year,” Matz said with a laugh. “I guess it’s all about what have you done for me lately. But I do have a couple of newly turned 3-year-olds here with me now I really like, including one I plan to enter for Saturday, so you never know.”