Lynch spots stable stars Oscar Performance, Heart to Heart

In total, trainer Brian Lynch saw three graded stakes winners breeze on Sunday, with Oscar Performance going four furlongs in 48.86 and Heart to Heart also going that distance in 49.31.

That's in addition to La Signare, who put in her final breeze before next weekend's Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Oaks.

"I was very happy with all of them. It was a scorcher this morning, but they all seemed to get through the works nicely," Lynch said. "La Signare had her last little blowout. It was a nice, relaxed half-mile with a good gallop out."

Oscar Performance came back from a more than seven-month layoff in impressive fashion in winning the Grade 3 Poker on June 17. Bolstered by that 1 ½-length victory in which he set a course and stakes record of 1:31.23, Lynch said the Kitten's Joy colt is on target for the Grade 1 Arlington Million on August 11 at Arlington Park.

The mile distance suited Oscar Performance, who was making his first start since finishing ninth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf in November at Del Mar. The 4-year-old earned a personal-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure while tying the North American record for one mile on turf, set by Mandurah in 2010 at Monmouth Park.

"He had a nice little half-mile in his first work back, and he's working towards the Arlington Million," Lynch said. "He's done well facing high-caliber horses, and there's always high expectations with him. It was great seeing him show up the way that he did."

Oscar Performance is slated to follow the Arlington Million with the Shadwell Mile Turf Mile on October 8 at Keeneland and the Breeders' Cup Mile on November 3at Churchill Downs, Lynch said.

Heart to Heart is pointing towards the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap on August 11 at Saratoga Race Course. After turning 7, Heart to Heart has shown no signs of slowing down, winning the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf on February 10 and the Grade 1 Maker's 46 Mile on April 13 at Keeneland before running second in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on May 28.

"It was his first work back and he's about five weeks out from the Fourstardave, so we'll pick up the work program with him," Lynch said. "We're very happy with him. He's just such an honest horse."

La Signare won her stakes debut in capturing the Grade 3 Wonder Again by one length over fellow Oaks contender Significant Form on June 7 at Belmont. The French bred Siyouni filly broke her maiden at second asking in her native country before finishing second in her first North American start in an allowance race on April 11 at Keeneland before leading gate-to-wire in the Wonder Again, where she successfully stretched out to 1 1/8 miles.

The Belmont Oaks, contested at 1 1/4 miles, will represent another opportunity for La Signare to go longer.

"She's training well coming into it, but the test is the mile and a quarter," Lynch said. "I'm confident. She seems like she has great stamina."