DEL MAR, Calif. -- The Grade 1 winner Hard Aces ended a nine-race losing streak with a grueling victory over Quick Casabalanca in Sundays $100,000 Cougar II Handicap at 1-1/2 miles on dirt at Del Mar.The 2-5 favorite, Hard Aces was tested through the final half-mile by 3-1 Quick Casablanca before winning the Grade 3 race by a half-length. The style of the win was familiar to Kosta Hronis, who owns the 6-year-old with his brother, Pete.When he puts his head down, hes a grinder, Kosta Hronis said.Hard Aces was timed in 2:30.55. The win could lead to a start in a stakes on Aug. 20 -- the $1 million Pacific Classic at 1-1/4 miles on dirt, or the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap at 1-3/8 miles on turf.Sunday, Hard Aces was ridden by Santiago Gonzalez and led by as many as four lengths in the first half-mile. Gonzalez did not vigorously urge Hard Aces when the field ran through the stretch for the first time, allowing Quick Casablanca to draw within a head.Hard Aces maintained a narrow advantage through the first 1-1/4 miles, dogged by Quick Casablanca. Through the final quarter-mile, Hard Aces was in front by at least a half-length, but was pressed by Quick Casablanca.He wont give you a big kick, but hell keep running, Hronis said.Quick Casablanca, the winner of the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Handicap on turf at Santa Anita in April, finished 2-1/4 lengths in front of Seves Road, who was followed by Energia Fribby.The race did not live up to expectations after the overnight was published on Thursday. Hoppertunity, third in the Dubai World Cup in March, was scratched because of an elevated temperature. The Hronis-owned Infobedad was scratched on Sunday morning.Hard Aces, a horse by Hard Spun, is trained by John Sadler. 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And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. India have expressed frustration at what they hinted was a ploy of New Zealand batsmen to slow the game down through comfort breaks. They feel that denied their bowlers momentum just as they had begun to build pressure on Kane Williamson and Tom Latham. In a wicketless second session, before rain washed out the rest of the day, India managed to get in 26 overs. Eight of these 26 overs were bowled by the quicks. There were seven to eight unscheduled breaks taken in the session.Indias batting coach Sanjay Bangar was asked about the frustration of the rain break when he spoke about the New Zealand tactics. It was starting to turn a bit, and the bowlers were getting into good rhythm, Bangar said. I think the break of rain and the intermittent breaks in between definitely hampered the bowlers rhythm. That is something that we need to be aware of. And if somebody has come out with a ploy we need to negotiate that as well.There was a period towards the end of the second session when the ball started to do tricks for the spinners. For the last 20 minutes or so of that session, not in this context, you felt the batsmen could do with a break because the bowlers seemed to be building towards something. The last 10 overs of the day brought 25 runs compared to the overall run rate of 3.23.Bangar seemed to suggest it was a deliberate ploy. He did say that all sides, including India, look to gain every inch before evoking the spirit of cricket. That may have been a strategy, and that is something we have spoken of, Bangar said. We need to make sure that we are getting a lot of overs and that is something that the umpires are aware of that no matter how hot and humid the conditions are, you still have to make sure that the continuity of the game is not hampered.Not to read too much into it, but there are certain areas wherein every individual looks to score and advantage over the opposition. Even we do that at some point of time. That is something we need to be aware of, but ultimately it is the spirit of the game that needs to be kept in tact.Bangar suggested the umpires might have assured India in this matter. Asked what they plan to do about this strategy, Bangar said: That is something the umpirres have been aware of.dddddddddddd. It is something the on-field umpires and the match referee are aware of. Obviously they will make sure that certain corrective measures will be taken in the days to come.Towards the end of the session, the umpires did seem to get involved when New Zealand batsmen called for drinks or change of gloves. Latham, who got treatment for what seemed like cramps minutes before the tea break, did so with the umpires standing in close vicinity of the physio administering the treatment.Other than that it worth noting that it has been incredibly humid in Kanpur. On day one Mark Craig was completely soaked as he bowled. Mitchell Santner even said the sweat made it difficult for them to maintain the ball for reverse swing. There were also a number of times a bowler had to be stopped because someone was walking in front or right above the sight screen, but that was the case when India batted too.It is impossible to tell now whether it was a New Zealand strategy, because their press conference was conducted before Indias. However, in a different context, Craig McMillan, New Zealands batting coach, was asked if they had decided to not let Ravindra Jadeja rush through his overs. Against South Africa last season, Jadeja was finishing his overs in under two minutes, but he couldnt do that here.Well he has one of the shortest run-ups in world cricket, so it is never going to take long for him to get through his overs, McMillan said. As a batsman it is important you are not rushed and you take your time so you are ready to face in your own time. That can be difficult when someone has such a short run-up, but I thought the guys did that well.It doesnt matter what bowler you face, you have to make sure youre ready. Hes got one of those short run-ups so he gets through his overs quickly. Its just about being prepared and making sure youre ready to face up and youre not rushed. I thought the guys were fine but it is something to keep an eye on because sometimes those guys with shorter run-ups can be bowling the ball before youve even looked up. ' ' '