Trainer says Heart to Heart fine after loss
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Probably the most surprising result from last weekend’s racing here was the seventh-place finish by Heart to Heart as the 7-10 favorite in Saturday’s Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale.
Although trainer Brian Lynch was generous Monday in offering “no excuse” for the subpar performance, the race spoke for itself. The usually speedy Heart to Heart was compromised when getting away a bit tardily, putting himself in tight quarters under the wire the first time and forcing jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. to adjust tactics from midpack.
None of it worked, as Heart to Heart faded while Shining Copper outfought One Go All Go to win. The 78 Beyer Speed Figure for Heart to Heart was easily his lowest since October 2015, a span of 16 races. The 7-year-old horse has earned more than $1.5 million from 33 starts.
“He seems to be fine,” Lynch said. “He’s been a model of consistency, so yes it was a disappointing effort. But we’ll regroup and come back at them,” with the March 3 Canadian Turf at a mile as a plausible next start.
Gun Runner arrives Thursday
Gun Runner, the clear-cut favorite for the Jan. 27 Pegasus World Cup, is scheduled to arrive here Thursday following a flight from New Orleans to Fort Lauderdale.
Gun Runner will be making his final career start in the $16 million Pegasus, for which all but two of 12 available spots had been confirmed as of Monday. Entries will be taken and drawn Jan. 24.
◗ Tyler Gaffalione, second to Luis Saez atop the Gulfstream jockey standings, will be out of action Friday through Sunday while serving a three-day suspension for a riding infraction in the Jan. 7 Santa Ynez at Santa Anita.
