Breeding & Racing Magazine

Lion Heart Adds US Gr2

On the US track, Coolmore shuttler & dual Gr1-winning freshman sire Lion Heart (Tale Of The Cat-Satin Sunrise, by Mr Leader) added a juvenile graded-stakes success when undefeated colt Azul Leon (Lion Heart-Quick Blue, by Cure The Blues) won the US$150,000 Gr2 Best Pal Stakes (6.5 furlongs on all-weather) for 2YOs at Del Mar in California after being "elevated from 2nd-place & awarded the victory when stewards disqualified 1st-place finisher Kelly Leak for interference in the stretch" reported thoroughbredtimes.com. Kelly Leak "crossed the finish line a nose in front of Azul Leon after a stretch-long duel, but stewards ruled Kelly Leak bore in & caused a 4-horse chain reaction; after an inquiry he was demoted to 4th place" & favourite Azul Lion (ridden by Rafael Bejarano for trainer Doug O'Neill) duly defeated fellow colt Coronet Of A Baron (Pure Prize-Time For A Crown, by Time For A Change) & gelding Charlie's Moment (Indian Charlie-Moment Of Light, by Bold Revenue). Azul Leon now has 3 wins from 3 starts (also including last month's US Gr3 Hollywood Juvenile Championship over 6 furlongs at Hollywood Park) for US$182,400 earnings. Lion Heart's 1st Australian-bred progeny are 2YOs in this new season.