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.
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 .
