Backyard Heaven working his way back

ELMONT, N.Y. – Backyard Heaven, who at one point in the spring of 2018 was regarded as one of the top older male dirt horses in training, has been breezing steadily for a return to the races, possibly this summer at Saratoga.

Backyard Heaven had his seventh work of the year on Tuesday, breezing five furlongs in 1:02.64 over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga. Asked if he could possibly make the State Dinner Stakes at Belmont on July 7, Brown said: “I don’t think he’s ready. He’s not there yet.”

Last spring, Backyard Heaven was an impressive winner of the Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs. He was sent off the favorite in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster, but he finished sixth, beaten 10 3/4 lengths. He might have been adversely affected by the hot weather that night in Louisville.

Backyard Heaven tried to redeem himself in the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga, but finished seventh.

Brown said Backyard Heaven came out of that race needing surgery to remove an ankle chip.