Larry Cordes' homebred Mighty Heart, who Thursday night was named Canada's 2020 Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male, will make his 2021 debut Saturday in Keeneland's eighth race, a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming test on the main track.
Trained by Josie Carroll, who also conditions 2020 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Curlin's Voyage, Mighty Heart shipped to Keeneland April 3 from Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida.
“He has been training well at Palm Meadows and this is a starting point for the year,” said Sue Lorimer, assistant to Carroll, who is overseeing the trainer's small string at Keeneland.
Winner of the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes in September, Mighty Heart worked five furlongs here last Saturday in 1:00.60 as his final prep for his 4-year-old debut.
Lorimer and Melanie Pinto, who has been Mighty Heart's rider through the winter and spring, did not have much a celebration last night.
“We watched it (the virtual presentation) and then it was lights out,” Pinto said.
Mighty Heart is by Dramedy, a son of Distorted Humor who won Keeneland's 2015 Dixiana Elkhorn (G2) at odds of 30-1.
Other 2020 Sovereign-winning horses with Keeneland connections are:
Artie's Princess (female sprinter) – the homebred for Ken and Sarah Ramsey is based at Keeneland with trainer Wesley Ward.
Gretzky the Great (2-year-old male) – ran here in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) Presented by Coolmore America.
Say the Word (male turf) – entered in Saturday's Elkhorn (G2).
Skywire (older male main track) – sold for $47,000 as a yearling at the 2017 January Horses of All Ages Sale.
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