Heart of Destiny works at Churchill, to prep for Regret in
allowance
Heart of Destiny, second in last October’s Grade 1 Alcibiades and most
recently fourth in the Grade 1 Ashland, both over Keeneland’s Polytrack, heads a
field of 14 fillies entered in Thursday’s
8TH race at Churchill Downs and trainer Jimmy Baker is hopeful the race will
set her up for the Grade 3 Regret Stakes on June 16 under the Twin Spires.
“She came out of the Ashland fine and is doing well,” Baker stated. “She
always seems to hook a tough group of horses, so we’re putting her in an easier
spot to try to get back on the winning track. As long as things go OK on
Thursday, we will point her to the Regret.”
The Lion Heart chestnut filly broke her maiden on the turf at Saratoga prior
to her run in the Alcibiades. In her final juvenile start, Heart of Destiny
finished ninth as the favorite in the Grade 2 Pocahontas on the main track at
Churchill. Following that disappointing effort, Baker decided to keep Heart of
Destiny on turf and synthetic surfaces.
“After her race at Churchill, we want to keep her on the turf and Polytrack,”
Baker said. “Even if she would have won the Ashland we wouldn’t have considered
running her back in the (Grade 1 Kentucky) Oaks.”
While Heart of Destiny will prep for the grassy nine-furlong Regret in
Thursday’s allowance at the same distance, she prepped for the allowance with a
five-furlong breeze Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. She recorded the fastest
of six five-furlong works by covering the distance on the sloppy main track in
1:02.
Corey Lanerie was in the irons for the work and he also will be aboard
Thursday afternoon. Heart of Destiny has been ridden by Edgar Prado in all six
of her career starts.
Bred in Kentucky by Hurstland Farm and James Green Jr., Heart of Destiny has
a career record of 1-2-1 from six starts and earnings of $150,659.