Aqueduct: Heart Butte targets Evening Attire

Heart Butte, who returned from nearly a year-long layoff to win a stakes at Parx Racing on Dec. 31, will be pointed to a defense of his Evening Attire Stakes title when that race is run here Jan. 21.

Heart Butte, trained by Todd Pletcher, won last year’s Evening Attire, but went to the sidelines for more than 11 months. He returned in the Auld Lang Syne Stakes at Parx on Dec. 31, where he won a nose decision over Thunder Lord. Heart Butte has now won four consecutive races dating back to Nov. 7, 2010.

Michael McCarthy, Pletcher’s assistant trainer, said Heart Butte was extremely game in his Auld Lang Syne performance.

“A horse coming off an 11-month layoff had every right to throw in the towel, but he was game the whole way down the lane,” McCarthy said. “Looked like he could have been headed, but he fought back on; best by a short nose. Horse has come out of it in decent order.”

McCarthy also said that Calibrachoa, who won last year’s Toboggan, would be pointed to that race here Feb. 4.