Fourstardave Preview: Heart to Heart Takes Aim at Another Grade 1 Victory

The field may be small for this year’s version of the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap, but this is a case of quality over quantity. Each of the seven horses entered has had moments where you could see them winning a race like this, and many of the nation’s big connections have shown up, too, making it a very competitive contest. The event will be the eighth of a stellar 11-race card as Saratoga. Post time is approximately 5:02 ET.

Headlining this year’s field is multiple Grade 1 winner Heart to Heart. Before this season, he was still searching for that elusive Grade 1 win, but that all changed this past February in the Gulfstream Park Turf Stakes, a race that he held on to win by a neck. He then wheeled back to win the Grade 1 Makers’ 46 Mile Stakes at Keeneland before finishing a tough-luck second at Santa Anita in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile, losing by a neck. His regular rider, Julien Leparoux, will have the mount once again as they will break from post 5.

The Bill Mott-trained Yoshida will be the one flying home at the end as he returns to the United States after last competing in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at the prestigious Royal Ascot. He did nothing to disgrace himself in that tough spot and has been training well leading up to this race. Before going overseas, Yoshida opened his year with a big win at Churchill Downs in the Grade 1 Turf Classic. Manny Franco will have have the mount when Yoshida breaks from post 7.

The full field from the rail out: Weekend Hideaway (Main Track Only), Delta Prince, Divisidero, Made You Look, Heart to Heart, Voodoo Song, and Yoshida.

Top Choice

#7 Yoshida – The Mott trainee is back from Royal Ascot after a tremendously tough Ascot event where he gave a great account of himself. His other race this year was in the Turf Classic, which he won impressively with a rush down the lane in the pouring rain. This classy horse is dangerous and will be the main danger as they turn for home – as long as he is fully recoverd from his trip overseas.

Horses to Use in Multi-Race Wagers

#5 Heart to Heart – This might be the most popular turf horse in the country. He is still running amazingly at the age of 7, which is evident based on his multiple Grade 1 wins this year. There is no doubt that he will be the speed of the race and he will be difficult to catch if they leave him on his own on the front end. It is also important to note that he is 2-for-2 at Saratoga, and a mile is also his best distance, so all systems are on go as long as he is ready to fire off of his two-month layoff.

#3 Divisidero – The highly-classy Divisidero is coming into this one after winning the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap last time out. That was only his third start of 2018 and his first win of the season, but he just missed in his other two starts. This horse always runs well, no matter where they spot him, and this should be no different. He is also entered in the Grade 1 Arlington Million, but it is reported he will opt to run here.

Exotic Plays

#2 Delta Prince – The newly-crowned Grade 2 winner will now try to take the next step and become a Grade 1 victor. In the King Edward Stakes at Woodbine, this horse sat off the pace around mid-pack before taking off down the stretch to win going away. He is 4-for-6 at this distance and is also 1-for-1 over the inner turf course at Saratoga.

#4 Made You Look – He jumps up in class after a solid third last time out in the Grade 3 Poker Stakes where he chased a very classy horse in Oscar Performance to the wire before coming up short by a little over a length. That type of effort could make him tough here, as Oscar Performance would be well-backed in this spot. Trainer Chad Brown is always tough to beat here as well.

Party Crashers

#6 Voodoo Song – This is the king of Saratoga, having won an eye-popping four races here last year. He started off with a claiming victory before capturing two allowance races, then rounded out his incredible meet in the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes. Now he is back for more and is coming off a win in the $150,000 Forbidden Apple Stakes last time out. There is no question that he will be dangerous on the front end.

Throwouts

#1 Weekend Hideaway – He will only run if this race comes off the turf, as he is a main track only entrant. If that is the case, then he will have a shot here, but the chances are very slim that they run this race on the main track.