8th-Keeneland, $80,857, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 4-5, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.39, ft.
INTREPID HEART (c, 3, Tapit&hid=28277">Tapit–Flaming Heart {MSW & GSP, $245,961}, by Touch Gold), favored at 3-2 to build on a 7 3/4-length debut romp at Oaklawn Feb. 18 that garnered him the 'TDN Rising Star' nod, gutted out a narrow victory in this particularly salty first-level allowance Friday. Perched three deep in third early, but always seemingly under a ride as speedy GIII Swale S. fourth High Crime (Violence) showed the way, the grey appeared to be in deep water spinning for home furthest out on the track. Hall of Fame pilot John Velazquez continued to implore Intrepid Heart in the run to the line, and he responded late to reel in High Crime in the shadow of the wire by a half-length. The fourth-priciest lot at $750,000 at last year's OBS April sale off a :10 2/5 breeze, Intrepid Heart's MSW/GSP dam Flaming Heart (Touch Gold) is also responsible for Commissioner (A.P. Indy), MGSW & GISP, $962,237; Laugh Track (Distorted Humor), GSW & GISP, $598,014; and the dam of last year's GII Wood Memorial S. winner Vino Rosso (Curlin)–entered in Saturday's GI Carter H.–and his sophomore half-brother and 'Rising Star' So eAlive (Super Saver), who will contest the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. Saturday in Lexington. Vino Rosso and So Alive are fellow Pletcher trainees. Flaming Heart, who was bred and campaigned by Frank Stronach's operation, was purchased by WinStar Farm for $1.5 million in foal to Street Cry (Ire) at the 2007 Keeneland November sale. She produced a Carpe Diem colt in 2018 but was subsequently barren to Curlin. Sales history: $750,000 2yo '18 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $104,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Lawana L. & Robert E. Low; B-WinStar Farm, LLC & Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.
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