Will Heart Prevail in the Mathis Bros Mile?

Terry Hamilton’s Heart to Heart (English Channel) seeks his fourth straight victory in Friday’s GII Mathis Brothers Mile, formerly known as the GII Sir Beaufort S., over the Santa Anita turf course. The Brian Lynch pupil really came into his own at Saratoga this summer with a win the grassy one-mile Better Talk Now S. Aug. 20 and followed suit with a victory in the GIII Jefferson Cup on the sod at Churchill Downs Sept. 27. The bay wired the field again next out as the even-money favorite in the 1 1/16-mile GIII Commonwealth Turf S. over that turf course Nov. 15. Heart to Heart’s challenge in this test will be to avoid a speed duel with fellow frontrunner Red Outlaw (Tribal Rule). Owned by Blinkers On Racing, Aurelio, Bizovi, Coons, Dizonno, Gaylord, et al, the chestnut was undefeated until his last start when he finished fourth behind older foes, including GI Bing Crosby S. winner Big Macher (Beau Genius), in Del Mar’s state-bred Cary Grant S. going seven panels on the synthetic Nov. 23. Prior to that loss, the Peter Miller trainee racked up six straight wins over both turf and synthetic, most recently capturing this venue’s 6 1/2-panel Uniformity S. Oct. 19. Hall of Famers Bill Mott and Mike Smith team up here with GII Twilight Derby hero Long On Value (Value Plus). The Watchel Stable and George Kerr colorbearer finished fourth in Saratoga’s GII Hall of Fame S. after acting up in the gate Aug. 8 and went on to win Canterbury’s Mystic Lake Derby next out Sept. 13. The bay sprung the upset at odds of 11-1 last time over this course in the 1 1/8-mile Twilight Derby Oct. 31, where he got up just in time to secure a neck victory overSawyer’s Hill (Spring At Last). It’s not a turf race without an offspring of Kitten’s Joy and the sire is represented here by Tarabilla Farm’s Home Run Kitten. Trained by David Hofmans, the chestnut boasts two wins over this course and distance, including the Singletry S. June 21. Unplaced in the GII Del Mar Derby Aug. 31, he won the GIII Eddie D. S. at 10-1 odds going 6 1/2 furlongs over this course Sept. 26. Home Run Kitten was last seen finishing a non-factor 11th behind paternal sibling Bobby’s Kitten in this venue’s 6 1/2-panel GI Breeders Cup Turf Sprint Nov. 1.