Playing Hardball (USA) Horse
Country
Foal Date
Colour
Sire
Dam
Prize Money
Trainer
Owners
About
Playing Hardball is a 8yo dk b/br from the United States, trained by Samuel Calvario. The colt is by Hard Spun out of Pamona Ball and has claimed five victories so far. On 24 July 2023 at Sacramento, he secured his biggest triumph, collecting the $35,100 purse in Race 8. He has consistently delivered value to bettors, and a backer who staked on him throughout his career would have realized an 80% return on investment.
Raced At
Sam Houston Race Park • Golden State Racing • Pleasanton • Del Mar • Los Alamitos Racecourse • Fresno • Golden Gate Fields • Sacramento • Santa AnitaRace Record
| Event Summary | Runner Stats | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Lone Star Park 14-Jul-25 1210m R6 Race 6 $100 (of $14,000) Barrier 6, Winning Time: 01:10.550, SP: 17.00 pressed the early pace outside the winner then faltered mid turn. 1st Immelmann ( L Reyes 122 ) 2nd Summer Splash ( E Asmussen 122 ) 0.50L 3rd Weird Year ( I Diego 124 ) 7.00L 8th Playing Hardball ( S Rivera 122 ) 19.25L See full results | S Rivera 55.3kg 19.25L | 8 (10) |
| Lone Star Park 14-Jun-25 1110m FIRM R7 Race 7 $100 (of $14,000) Barrier 9, Winning Time: 01:05.020, SP: 17.00 raced off the rail, off the pace and failed to threaten. 1st Super Brady ( I Diego 124 ) 2nd Affectionto Autism ( S Rivera 124 ) 3.00L 3rd Suitable ( R Vazquez 124 ) 0.30L 6th Playing Hardball ( O Sanchez 124 ) 11.25L See full results | O Sanchez 56.2kg 11.25L | 6 (7) |
| Lone Star Park 17-May-25 1110m FIRM R3 Race 3 $1,050 (of $15,000) Barrier 4, Winning Time: 01:05.990, SP: 26.00 was unhurried, raced along the inside into the turn, angled out and offered no late rally. 1st Weird Year ( I Diego 122 ) 2nd Baseball Politics ( R Vazquez 124 ) 2.25L 3rd Ima Bling Cat ( A J Jr 122 ) 2.50L 4th Playing Hardball ( O Sanchez 122 ) 6.50L See full results | O Sanchez 55.3kg 6.50L | 4 (6) |
| Lone Star Park 28-Apr-25 1210m FIRM R7 Race 7 $100 (of $17,000) Barrier 5, Winning Time: 01:11.440, SP: 17.00 was reserved early, raced between rivals and never fired. 1st Cinco Majestic ( E V Jiminez 124 ) 2nd Runhappy D'oro ( E Gonzalez 124 ) 0.20L 3rd Hezakoolkat ( L Reyes 124 ) 4.50L 6th Playing Hardball ( S Rivera 124 ) 13.70L See full results | S Rivera 56.2kg 13.70L | 6 (7) |
| Sam Houston Race Park 10-Mar-25 1210m FIRM R7 Race 7-Starter Optional Claiming $100 (of $20,000) Barrier 4, Winning Time: 01:11.800, SP: 51.00 Brief speed, faded 1st Hap Hot ( D Parker 123 ) 2nd Malibu S S ( A J Triana 123 ) 1.00L 3rd Blocked ( D Cabrera 121 ) 5.25L 8th Playing Hardball ( S Rivera 121 ) See full results | S Rivera 54.9kg | 8 (8) |
| Sam Houston Race Park 24-Feb-25 1010m GOOD R6 Race 6-Claiming $100 (of $15,000) Barrier 2, Winning Time: 00:58.700, SP: 7.50 Checked 1/2,lost chnce 1st Cinco Steve ( E Gonzalez 121 ) 2nd My Little Prince ( S Elliott 121 ) 0.30L 3rd Champagne Stooper ( R Diaz 121 ) 1.25L 9th Playing Hardball ( L A Jimenez 121 ) See full results | L A Jimenez 54.9kg | 9 (9) |
| Golden State Racing 14-Dec-24 1110m R2 Race 2 $3,200 (of $16,000) Barrier 3, Winning Time: 01:04.360 prominent away from the start, vied for the early lead between runners, disputed the solid pace between foes approaching the turn, took back and chased the leading pair from the rail nearing the quarter marker, bid into upper stretch then vied for the lead at the furlong marker, could not keep pace with the winner into the final sixteenth and held well late for second. 1st Too Much Info ( S Rivera 123 ) 2nd Playing Hardball ( L M J Aburto 125 ) 2.00L 3rd Hey Batman ( A L Bautista 116 , Cd 123 ) 3.00L See full results | L M J Aburto 56.7kg 2.00L | 2 (7) |
| Pleasanton 13-Dec-24 1110m FIRM R2 Pleasanton race 2 $3,200 (of $9,600) Barrier 3, Winning Time: 01:04.360, SP: 2/1 Vied btw,ins,outkicked 1st Too Much Info ( S Rivera 123 ) 2nd Playing Hardball ( L A Jimenez 125 ) 2.00L 3rd Hey Batman ( A Bautista 123 , Cd 116 ) 1.00L | L A Jimenez 56.7kg 2.00L | 2 (7) |
| Del Mar 16-Nov-24 1110m FIRM R5 Race 5 $500 (of $22,002) Barrier 3, Winning Time: 01:03.710, SP: 26.00 got bumped into outer rival at the start, dropped back under asking early, trailed along the rail around the bend and was never a factor. 1st Bag's Gold ( A Escobedo 124 ) 2nd El Diablo Rojo ( D A Herrera 124 ) 3.25L 3rd Grazen Sun ( E Payeras 124 ) 5.00L 7th Playing Hardball ( T Baze 124 ) 13.00L See full results | T Baze 56.2kg 13.00L | 7 (9) |
| Del Mar 17-Aug-24 1310m FIRM R8 Race 8 $500 (of $31,000) Barrier 4, Winning Time: 01:16.680 chased between rivals, dropped back on the turn, eased in the lane and walked off. 1st Clampett ( A Cedillo 120 ) 2nd Piper's Causeway ( D A Herrera 122 ) 0.75L 3rd Trusty Rusty ( T J Pereira 120 ) 3.25L 11th Playing Hardball ( R Gutierrez 120 ) 37.00L See full results | R Gutierrez 54.4kg 37.00L | 11 (11) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 24-Jun-24 1210m FIRM R6 Race 6 $500 (of $19,000) Barrier 7, Winning Time: 01:09.290 vied three deep up the backstretch, could not keep pace with the top pair on the turn, chased three wide to the stretch and tired. 1st See Through It ( E A Maldonado 124 ) 2nd Disko Tribute ( A Ayuso 126 ) 0.25L 3rd Enjoy It Strait ( D A Herrera 124 ) 3.00L 6th Playing Hardball ( A Cedillo 124 ) 21.55L See full results | A Cedillo 56.2kg 21.55L | 6 (6) |
| Fresno 16-Oct-23 1610m FIRM R5 CL $1,890 (of $27,000) Barrier 5, Winning Time: 01:36.710, SP: 3.80 Contested pace,tired 1st Supermazel ( P Brayan 125 ) 2nd Conundrum ( C Alexander 125 ) 1.25L 3rd Vantage Point ( R Evin 125 ) 8.00L 4th Playing Hardball ( E Assael 125 ) 11.25L See full results | E Assael 56.7kg 11.25L | 4 (5) |
| Golden Gate Fields 02-Oct-23 1010m GOOD (of $24,180), Winning Time: 00:57.030, SP: 5.25 4-5w trip, middle move 1st Disko Tribute ( A Espinoza 123 ) 2nd Terry's Boy ( K Radke 123 ) 0.30L 3rd Honeymoonz Over ( W I Antongeorgi 125 ) 1.75L 6th Playing Hardball ( C Martinez 125 , Cd 0 ) 8.75L | C Martinez 56.7kg, Cd 0 8.75L | 6 (8) |
| Golden Gate Fields 04-Sep-23 1210m FIRM R4 CL $3,200 (of $32,000) Barrier 5, Winning Time: 01:09.020, SP: 3.80 Showed speed,yielded 1st Unraptured ( F Alvarado 123 ) 2nd Rager ( A Espinoza 123 ) 0.15L 3rd Playing Hardball ( C Martinez 125 ) 3.25L See full results | C Martinez 56.7kg 3.25L | 3 (5) |
| Sacramento 24-Jul-23 1210m FIRM R8 Race 8 $22,113 (of $35,100) Barrier 6, Winning Time: 01:09.310, SP: 3.00 Repelled bid;won clear 1st Playing Hardball ( C Martinez 127 ) 2nd Blazing Jamie ( W I Antongeorgi 127 ) 1.25L 3rd Robie ( I Orozco 127 ) 2.25L See full results | C Martinez 57.6kg | 1 (5) |
| Pleasanton 09-Jul-23 1110m FIRM (of $13,843), Winning Time: 01:04.120, SP: 3.50 Trckd 3w,pulled away 1st Playing Hardball ( C Martinez 125 ) 2nd Colonel Vargo ( F Alvarado 122 ) 3.00L 3rd Dealers Hand ( C Herrera 125 ) 0.75L | C Martinez 56.7kg | 1 (8) |
| Golden Gate Fields 12-Jun-23 1210m FIRM R2 CL $10,710 (of $17,000) Barrier 1, Winning Time: 01:10.050, SP: 3.60 Rated,fully extended 1st Playing Hardball ( E Roman 125 ) 2nd Asano's Back ( C Herrera 125 ) 0.20L 3rd Lessons Of Autism ( C Martinez 125 ) 0.50L See full results | E Roman 56.7kg | 1 (6) |
| Golden Gate Fields 20-May-23 1110m FIRM R4 CL $1,700 (of $17,000) Barrier 2, Winning Time: 01:05.170, SP: 4.30 3-4 wd turn,willingly 1st Alexander's Dream ( A Chavez 125 ) 2nd Fast Per Se ( A Ayuso 125 ) 1.25L 3rd Playing Hardball ( E Roman 125 ) 1.75L See full results | E Roman 56.7kg 1.75L | 3 (5) |
| Golden Gate Fields 27-Feb-23 1110m FIRM R6 Race 6-Claiming (of $21,000) Barrier 6, Winning Time: 01:04.410, SP: 4.30 Took back,bid 4w,tired 1st Refi Now ( F Alvarado 123 ) 2nd Fast Per Se ( J Couton 123 ) 2.00L 3rd Mcgeorge ( E Roman 123 ) 0.50L 6th Playing Hardball ( W I Antongeorgi 123 ) 6.50L | W I Antongeorgi 55.8kg 6.50L | 6 (6) |
| Golden Gate Fields 05-Feb-23 1210m FIRM R8 Race 8-Allowance (of $31,000) Barrier 8, Winning Time: 01:10.280, SP: 6.50 Showed speed,tired 1st Terry's Boy ( A Ayuso 119 ) 2nd Conundrum ( A Chavez 119 ) 0.50L 3rd Lmlooknformischief ( I Orozco 125 ) 0.50L 9th Playing Hardball ( W I Antongeorgi 125 ) 12.00L | W I Antongeorgi 56.7kg 12.00L | 9 (9) |
| Golden Gate Fields 10-Dec-22 1210m FIRM CL (of $400), Winning Time: 01:08.870, SP: 10.00 Chsd 2w,outkicked 1st Star Racer ( A Espinoza 121 ) 2nd Terry's Boy ( A Ayuso 123 ) 3.50L 3rd Playing Hardball ( W I Antongeorgi 127 ) 5.25L | W I Antongeorgi 57.6kg 5.25L | 3 (10) |
| Golden Gate Fields 31-Oct-22 1210m FIRM CL (of $3,307), Winning Time: 01:09.930, SP: 8.50 Speed,met bid,faded 1st Bobby's Alibi ( E Assael 127 ) 2nd Should Be Illegal ( R Evin 121 ) 0.75L 3rd Almanera ( R Kevin 119 ) 0.20L 7th Playing Hardball ( A I William 127 , Cd 0 ) 5.25L | A I William 57.6kg, Cd 0 5.25L | 7 (9) |
| Golden Gate Fields 19-Sep-22 1210m FIRM CL (of $16,533), Winning Time: 01:09.790, SP: 6.50 Off slow,bid,outkicked 1st Bobby's Alibi ( I Orozco 123 ) 2nd Cees Get Degrees ( E Roman 123 ) 1.25L 3rd Playing Hardball ( W I Antongeorgi 127 ) 1.75L | W I Antongeorgi 57.6kg 1.75L | 3 (7) |
| Golden Gate Fields 29-Aug-22 1210m FIRM CL (of $21,493), Winning Time: 01:10.050, SP: 36.00 Stmbld st,inside rally 1st Playing Hardball ( W I Antongeorgi 123 ) 2nd Handsome Gary ( C Martinez 121 ) 1.25L 3rd Great Story ( S Rivera 123 ) 0.15L | W I Antongeorgi 55.8kg | 1 (8) |
| Sacramento 18-Jul-22 1110m R6 Race 6 (of $35,100) Barrier 2, Winning Time: 01:02.670 was off a step slow, hustled to keep contact with the field, had no response when asked through the turn and was not persevered with late. 1st Irrefutable ( P M Terrero 127 ) 2nd Handsome Gary ( C Martinez 125 ) 1.75L 3rd Our Bold Prince ( I Orozco 125 ) 3.00L 5th Playing Hardball ( W A Iii 125 ) 12.00L See full results | W A Iii 56.7kg 12.00L | 5 (5) |
| Pleasanton 26-Jun-22 1210m FIRM Md (of $18,027), SP: 4.40 1st Playing Hardball ( P Terrero 125 ) 2nd Kings River Knight ( A Gomez 125 ) 0.50L 3rd I Can't Hear You ( I Orozco 122 ) 1.75L | P Terrero 56.7kg | 1 |
| Santa Anita 31-May-22 1210m GOOD R1 Race 1 (of $67,000) Barrier 3, Winning Time: 01:09.420 vied between rivals into the turn, got put in tight and steadied briefly early on the bend, chased two wide to the stretch and weakened. 1st Lil Nas ( I O Jr 126 ) 2nd Queen's Code ( T Baze 126 ) 0.05L 3rd Lil Richards Bello ( E A Maldonado 126 ) 4.80L 5th Playing Hardball ( U Rispoli 126 ) 10.15L See full results | U Rispoli 57.2kg 10.15L | 5 (6) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 20-Dec-20 1110m R3 Race 3 (of $42,000) Barrier 3, Winning Time: 01:04.540 1st My Man Bags ( J J Hernandez 122 ) 2nd Va Va Vegas ( D V Dyke 122 ) 2.00L 3rd Gordy's Boy ( T J Pereira 122 ) 5.50L 6th Playing Hardball ( A Cedillo 122 ) 10.00L See full results | A Cedillo 55.3kg 10.00L | 6 (9) |