Heart to Heart dominates Commonwealth Turf

 

A packed field of 12 proved to be no match for Terry Hamilton’s Heart to Heart who took to the front in the Grade 3, $100,000 Commonwealth Turf Stakes and kept going for a comfortable win on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

 

Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Heart to Heart controlled the pace gate-to-wire, covering the opening quarter in :23.60, and posting :47.53 for the half-mile and 1:11.53 for six furlongs.

 

Other Cheek traveled a length behind in second, followed by Archway to Heaven on the inside of Bashart in fourth. 

 

The winner notched the mile in 1:35.12 and completed the 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:41.54.

 

The final order was largely unchanged through the race with Other Cheek finishing second and Bashart in third. Highball, the only closer to hit the board in the Commonwealth Turf, made up ground in the stretch to secure fourth place.

 

The Commonwealth Turf is Heart to Heart’s fourth win from six starts this year following his sophomore debut on April 9 at Keeneland. The English Channel colt boasts a career record of 5-1-2 from 12 starts for total earnings of more than $320,000.

 

In the barn of Brian Lynch since last winter, the Ontario-bred runner keeps his unbeaten stakes record at Churchill Downs to two, following a four-length score in the Grade 3 Jefferson Cup on Sept. 27.

 

Heart to Heart was sent off as then even-money favorite and returned $4.00, $3.20 and $2.60 across the board.