Terry Hamilton's Heart to Heart was all heart Aug. 2, showing the way throughout and carrying on to victory in the $150,000 Oceanport Stakes at Monmouth Park.
The 4-year-old English Channel colt rebounded from a dismal seventh in the June 16 Poker Stakes at Belmont Park to win his first stakes of 2015, adding to a resume that includes the 2014 editions of the Commonwealth Stakes and Jefferson Cup Stakes at Churchill Downs.
First of all at the break in a seven-horse field under jockey Victor Espinoza, Heart to Heart set off through a :25.56 seconds opening quarter, went a half in :48.46 seconds, and got three-quarters in 1:11.27 while staying a length to a length and a half in front of his closest rival.
The Brian Lynch trainee finished up through a 1:34.59 mile en route to a final time of 1:40.79 on firm turf, with Hothersal closing from fifth to get second, 2-1/4 lengths in front of third-place runner Cage Fighter. Lochte, Film Making, Old Time Hockey, and Kharafa completed the order of finish.
Heart to Heart was bred in Ontario by Red Hawk Ranch out of the Silver Deputy mare Ask the Question, and improved his record to 6-2-2 from 16 starts for earnings of $453,307. He was a $25,348 purchase by Hamilton from the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario Division)'s 2012 Canadian-bred yearling sale when consigned by Ballycroy Training Centre.