During a career in which he won 15 races and more than $2 million, Heart to Heart notably captured two consecutive runnings of the Canadian Turf Stakes (G3T) in 2016-17 at Gulfstream Park for owner Terry Hamilton and trainer Brian Lynch.
Now Heart to Heart's top earner with a bankroll of $299,463, Silent Heart, has a chance at Canadian Turf glory March 1 for these same connections. Already a stakes winner at Gulfstream Park, the 4-year-old Lynch trainee tries graded stakes company for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile, $165,000 turf race for co-owners Hamilton and Koocanusa Ventures. He faces a deep field of rivals that include Major Dude, Fort Washington, Irish Aces, and Atone.
Like Crestwood Farm's stallion Heart to Heart, Silent Heart has excelled at Gulfstream Park, winning three of five turf starts locally, including the Showing Up Stakes in 1:39.59 over a "good" course Nov. 2. He then ran a close third in the Dec. 14 Tropical Park Derby before winning a Jan. 31 allowance optional claiming race at a mile on firm grass in 1:31.92.
Luis Saez, aboard for the latter victory, rides in the Canadian Turf.
"I haven't had too many (Heart to Heart progeny) and he's the best I've had. I'm kind of feeling my way with him," Lynch said. "(Heart to Heart) was a cool horse that got better with age so hopefully this guy follows along."
Hall of Fame trainers Shug McGaughey and Todd Pletcher start Magic Cap Stables' Fort Washington and Spendthirft Farm's Major Dude, respectively. The two horses race for the third time at Gulfstream Park this winter. The former was fifth and the latter sixth in the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T), a start after Major Dude defeated Fort Washington by a neck in the Dec. 21 Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2T).
McGaughey is a three-time winner of the Canadian Turf. Pletcher has won the race a record seven times, including back-to-back with Emmanuel in 2023-24.
Entries: Swale S.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, February 1, 2025, Race 9
- STK
- 7f
- Dirt
- $165,000
- 3 yo
- 4:13 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Macho Music (FL) | Javier Castellano | 120 | Rohan Crichton | 8/1 |
| 2 | 2Donut God (KY) | Tyler Gaffalione | 120 | Brian A. Lynch | 3/1 |
| 3 | 3Maitre D (KY) | John R. Velazquez | 118 | Doug F. O'Neill | 20/1 |
| 4 | 4Fire Pit (KY) | Junior Alvarado | 120 | Guadalupe Preciado | 30/1 |
| 5 | 5Gate to Wire (KY) | Dylan Davis | 120 | Todd A. Pletcher | 12/1 |
| 6 | 6Gunmetal (KY) | Luis Saez | 118 | Brad H. Cox | 7/5 |
| 7 | 7Grayscale (KY) | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 118 | Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. | 9/5 |
In Our Time, Pounce Imposing in Honey Fox
Fort Washington and Major Dude are not the only Pegasus day competitors in action Saturday on the Gulfstream grass. Three races later on the Saturday card in the 12th race, two of those that raced in the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2T)—third-place In Our Time and fourth-place Pounce—lead the $165,000 Honey Fox Stakes (G3T).
John Stewart's Resolute Racing owns Pounce, trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, and co-owns In Our Time with Miller Racing. In Our Time, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., is likely to dare the field to catch her in the one-mile turf contest under Edwin Gonzalez.
Tax Implications, Poolside With Slim, and Special Wan are their primary adversaries.
