With some familiar connections involved, Central Kentucky-based sire Heart to Heart saw his first stakes winner Nov. 2 when 3-year-old colt Silent Heart posted a decisive victory in the $79,000 Showing Up Stakes on the turf at Gulfstream Park.
Silent Heart is bred and co-owned by Terry Hamilton, who campaigned Heart to Heart, and is trained by Brian Lynch, who conditioned the sire for the majority of his racing career. The other co-owner of Silent Heart is Koocanusa Ventures.
Second-crop sire Heart to Heart stood the 2024 season for $5,000 at Crestwood Farm near Lexington.
During his seven seasons of racing, miler Heart to Heart earned more than $2 million, won 13 stakes including a pair of grade 1 races on the turf, and was named Canada’s champion 3-year-old male in 2014.
Appropriately enough, the first stakes winner for Heart to Heart earned that win on the grass. Heart to Heart, a son of 2007 champion grass horse and multiple leading turf sire English Channel, earned all 13 of his stakes wins on turf.
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In the Showing Up Stakes, Silent Heart stalked early leader Prevent through a half-mile in :47.43 and moved to the lead after six furlongs in 1:11.17. Silent Heart then drew off in the stretch to win by 3 1/4 lengths under jockey Edgar Perez as they completed the 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds in 1:39.59 on good turf.
Kentucky-bred Silent Heart is one of two winners from as many starters out of stakes-placed winner Mega Monster, by Silent Name .