LRL: Hard as Life returns with a bang
The number one on the bench records a narrow victory
Press release- February 15, 2026
A horse named Hard as Life has overcome countless trials and tribulations, but the Gun Runner colt enjoyed the kiss of good fortune during Sunday’s fourth race at Laurel Park, a first-level fee for 4-year-olds and over 1 1/16 miles.
Trained by Michelle Nihei of Fair Hill, Hard as Life returned from a 309-day layoff to post a gritty win over Badge of War. It was his first start since a bad break and a last-place finish in Keeneland’s Grade 3 Lexington Stakes on April 12.
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“He was sitting in the pyre gate, and it was one of those mass confusions,” Nihei said. “The gate opens and he’s still on the ground, so we’re breaking slowly and we never had any opportunity.”
If you thought that was bad luck, it was nothing compared to what Hard as Life went through next.
“I was thinking about what the future would bring when he got pneumonia,” Nihei added. “We were in the clinic for almost a month and a half. After a few more roadblocks and speed bumps, we finally got to where we needed to be.”
Hard as Life got a nice finish under hot-riding Angel Cruz, while favorite Night Time Nap, stakes winner Tony Eclipse and Badge of War battled for the lead in hot splits of 23.87, 47.67 and 1:13.38.
“I asked Angel to make sure he took it back,” Nihei said. “This horse wants to run from behind. He doesn’t like to be in front. It’s too much for him to be in front. Mentally he wants to grab a corral and run at horses.”
The leaders showed signs of fatigue in the second turn, and Cruz expertly moved his mount three wide to divide his rivals. Hard as Life went head-to-head with Badge of War and, despite catching up on the long ride, outlasted its gaming rival in 1:47.65 on the fast track.
Tony Eclipse finished third, 3 ½ lengths behind the runner-up. Amy’s Music, Missouri River, Devil’s Cay and Night Time Nap completed the order of finish.
Owned by Circle 8, Hard as Life returned $11 as the fourth choice.
“Angel said he’s doing what he did before. He likes to play with them down the track,” Nihei added. “That needs to stop, but he’s still maturing. I know he’s four, but we missed a year growing up.”
Bred in Kentucky by Tropical Racing, Hard as Life is a Gun Runner half-brother to the winning dirt sprinter Probably Dreaming and is out of Dreaming as Always, by Broken Vow.
His second mother is multi-stakes grass runner Leonor Fini, from the family of French 2,000 Guineas winner Riverman. Those bloodlines influenced Nihei’s decision to race Hard as Life exclusively on turf and turf before the ill-fated Lexington run.
“He always trained like he could run on any surface,” Nihei explained. “But given what we were dealing with breed-wise, I felt he deserved a chance to run on the grass. Our plan was always to move to dirt when he got bigger and stronger because he is a late-maturing horse, both physically and mentally. Dirt brings its own set of circumstances, whether it’s getting dirt in the face or running through traffic.”
Hard as Life was the first winner at Churchill Downs in 2024 and has a record of two wins from eight starts for $126,637.
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