The rest of his three-year-old campaign wasn't as good, but he returned to form to win the Widener Handicap in February 1955 before his racing career was ended by injury.
Hasty Road was a huge[3] bay horse with a distinctive white blaze,[4] bred by Clifford Mooers of Walnut Springs Farm in Kentucky.
[14] By the end of the year, Hasty Road had earned $277,132, making him the second biggest money-winner of the season among all American horses[15] and the most financially successful two-year-old in history.
[7] Hasty Road began his three-year-old season in Florida, where he finished a neck second to Duc de Fer in the seven-furlong St. Valentine Purse at Hialeah on February 14.
During his time in Florida, Hasty Road displayed his "playful" temperament by twice throwing his exercise rider, sustaining minor injuries which delayed his training schedule.
The win emphasised his prospects in the Kentucky Derby, as the last two winners of the Trial, (Hill Gail and Dark Star), had taken the first leg of the Triple Crown.
As at Churchill Downs, Adams attempted to lead all the way on Hasty Road, but Correlation caught him in the closing stages and won by a head.
Adams employed his usual tactics, leading from the start on Hasty Road until Willie Shoemaker moved Correlation to challenge him in the straight.
At the wire, Hasty Road prevailed by a neck, but the result was only confirmed fifteen minutes later, after the racecourse stewards scrutinised replays of the finish.
[9] Hasty Road was sent to New York for the Belmont, but after the colt worked on the track, Reuben had another change of heart shortly before the race and returned him to his base in Chicago.
[21] On June 26 at Arlington Park, Hasty Road won the seven-furlong Warren Wright Memorial from off the pace by a length, with Hasseyampa third.
In the following month's American Derby, Hasty Road again lost to Errard King, tiring in the closing stages and losing second place to the Belmont Stakes winner, High Gun.
Although he drifted out slightly from the rail, Hasty Road appeared to have no difficulty maintaining his advantage, and Adams did not need to resort to his whip to hold off Capeador and win by a neck.