Saratoga Harness: Heart Of Mine lowers track record in NYSS

Heart Of Mine, driven by Jim Marohn Jr. for trainer Linda Toscano, broke her maiden in style on Monday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel, winning the first of two $70,300 New York Sire Stakes divisions for rookie pacing fillies in a track record 1:53 2/5. Marohn Jr. also won the other split with Test Of Faith.

Think Of Galaxies (Jordan Stratton) led through testing fractions of 27 1/5, 55 4/5, and 1:23 4/5 in that opening section, with Heart Of Mine coming first-over from third before three-quarters. Heart Of Mine caught Think Of Galaxies midway through the final turn, had a clear advantage turning for home, and drew off to win by 3 3/4 lengths over Party Queen (Billy Dobson). Think Of Galaxies had to settle for third.

A daughter of Roll With Joe, Heart Of Mine is owned by Toscano's Camelot Stable Inc. in partnership with The Bay's Stable LLC., Radio Racing Stable, and Fred Wallace. Heart Of Mine, who was bred by Brittany Farms LLC. and sold for $70,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, has a win and three seconds from five starts, and she has earned $63,805. Heart Of Mine is out of the Western Ideal mare Acquavella (1:53 3/5, $38,247), making her a half-sister to the likes of Captain Ahab (Captaintreacherous, 1:50 4/5, $142,969). Acquavella is also a full sister to Artspeak (1:47 4/5, $1,627,448). Heart Of Mine was the 5-1 third choice and paid $12.00 to win.

In the other flight Test Of Faith led all the way from the pole position for Marohn Jr., carving out panels of 27 4/5, 57 3/5, and 1:25 4/5 on her way to a 1:53 4/5 decision. She defeated Albergita Hanover (Jason Bartlett) by four lengths, with Dc Batgirl (Dobson) third.

Test Of Faith, a filly by Art Major, is trained by Brett Pelling for owners Melvin Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable, and Eddie Gran. She has four victories and a second from five efforts, and she has now banked $145,250. Bred by Fred Hertrich, Test Of Faith fetched $92,000 at the 2019 Standardbred Horse Sale and is the fourth foal of the Cam's Card Shark mare Cannae Cammie (1:50 2/5, $538,140). This makes Test Of Faith a half-sister to Alexis Faith (American Ideal, 1:50 3/5, $577,874) and to Can't Beach That (Somebeachsomewhere, 1:49, $204,600). Test Of Faith was the 1-9 favorite and returned $2.10 across the board.