Break time over for Heart to Heart

ELMONT, N.Y. – Coming off a solid Saratoga meet with five wins from 33 starters, trainer Brian Lynch is making plans for the fall that include the return of one of his better horses, Heart to Heart.

Heart to Heart, who won three consecutive graded stakes from last November through February, worked a half-mile in 47.20 seconds over the Belmont main track on Wednesday. It was his third work since returning from a vacation following a fourth-place finish as the favorite in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita in June.

“He’s not a big horse,” Lynch said. “The break surely was a benefit to him. It looked like he packed on the groceries while he was away.”

Lynch said a short-term goal with Heart to Heart is the Grade 3 River City Handicap at Churchill Downs in November, a race he won last year. Then, Heart to Heart would head to Gulfstream and seek repeat victories in the Canadian Turf and Fort Lauderdale stakes.

The Lynch-trained Grand Arch, third in the Grade 1 Fourstardave, is likely headed for the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 8. Grand Arch won the Shadwell last year.

Meanwhile, Lynch is eyeing the Pilgrim Stakes here on Oct. 1 for Oscar Performance, a 10 1/4-length maiden winner at Saratoga on Aug. 20 in his second start.

Lightstream, who finished second in the Grade 1 Test at the Spa, will point to the Grade 2, $250,000 Raven Run at Keeneland on Oct. 22.

Brooklyn Bobby, a son of Frankel, finished sixth at Saratoga in his debut and came out of that race with “cranky shins,” Lynch said. The horse has remained with him in New York and could return to the work tab in the coming weeks.