Heart to Heart won't have it easy in Maker's 46 Mile
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Often uncatchable, Heart to Heart has proven himself time and again as a graded-stakes performer. But if the millionaire 6-year-old is to finally become a Grade 1 winner on Friday, he’ll have to do it the hard way.
With an abundance of speed opposing Heart to Heart in the Grade 1, $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland, there will be scant opportunity for a breather.
“There are some other horses in there with the same kind of style,” said Brian Lynch, who trains Heart to Heart for owner Terry Hamilton. “Hopefully, being outside of the others will make things a bit easier for us.”
With Julien Leparoux to ride, Heart to Heart will break from post 9 as the likely favorite in a full field of 12 older turf horses in this 29th running of the Maker’s 46, the ninth of 10 Friday races. Drawn to his inside are two other speed types, What a View (post 2, Tyler Baze) and Conquest Enforcer (post 5, Paco Lopez).
Owner Ron Paolucci, who races as Loooch Racing, promised via Twitter this week that Conquest Enforcer will be sent to the front.
“Hell or high water, we’re going,” posted Paolucci.
Whether that means a hot mess will develop up front and set up the race for a closer is a question begging to be answered. If, in fact, there is a meltdown, there are plenty of worthy candidates to capitalize, including Blacktype (post 1, Joel Rosario), Bolo (post 4, Mike Smith), Inspector Lynley (post 8, John Velazquez), and Ballagh Rocks (post 10, Jose Lezcano).
Inspector Lynley rallied from just off the pace to win the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes in his last start. Trainer Shug McGaughey said Inspector Lynley has matured over the last year since finishing third in the Transylvania Stakes here last April, and that he has improved off the Tampa Bay Stakes. McGaughey expects him to like the Keeneland turf on Friday.
“It’s a lot like the turf at Tampa,” he said.
Rounding out a terrific lineup are American Patriot, Conquest Panthera, Calculator, Western Reserve, and Bondurant.
The Maker’s 46, which dates to 1989, has been won by such standouts as Opening Verse (1991), Artie Schiller (2005), Kip Deville (2007-08), and Wise Dan (2013-14). The 2016 winner was the filly Miss Temple City.
The Maker’s 46 is part of a late pick four (races 7-10) with a $200,000 pool guarantee. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern, with the feature going at 5:30. Three allowances (races 4, 7, 8) are part of another outstanding card.
The Friday forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and a high temperature of 80.
KEY CONTENDERS
Heart to Heart, by English Channel
Last 3 Beyers: 100-101-97
◗ Ontario-bred earner of nearly $1.1 million from 27 starts is an eight-time graded-stakes winner who tends to produce his best results when permitted to walk the dog – so emerging best under these demanding circumstances would amount to a victory well earned.
What a View, by Vronsky
Last 3 Beyers: 103-100-99
◗ One of several in here shipped eastward from Santa Anita, this California-bred turf miler has finished first or second in 11 of 18 starts under the guidance of former jockey Kenny Black.
Inspector Lynley, by Lemon Drop Kid
Last 3 Beyers: 102-89-92
◗ This Phipps family homebred endured some tough-luck journeys in a couple of races before Velazquez worked out a dream trip for him last month at Tampa.
Conquest Enforcer, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 97-97-99
◗ This 4-year-old Ontario-bred has finished behind Friday rivals What a View and Bolo at Santa Anita in his last two starts. Before that, he won the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile there in December.
Blacktype, by Dunkerque
Last 3 Beyers: 103-100-101
◗ French-bred gelding from the Christophe Clement barn packs a powerful late punch and makes his first start in nearly five months with a streak of five triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures.
Bolo, by Temple City
Last 3 Beyers: 101-100-93
◗ In-and-out 5-year-old was sharp in his last two, winning the Grade 2 Arcadia and finishing a close third in the Grade 1 Kilroe, both at a mile on the Santa Anita turf.