Luis Contreras picked up his fifth win on the card, piloting Blue Heart to a narrow score in Saturday’s $150,000 Jammed Lovely Stakes, at Woodbine.
Contreras won with five of his eight mounts on the afternoon, having his pictured snapped with Inclusa (Race 1), Run in Aruba (Race 3), Consolidator Joe (Race 4) and Mount Brew (Race 5) before completing his afternoon in style with an off-the-pace trip aboard Blue Heart in the seven-furlong ‘Poly’ stake.
Blue Heart, a grey Exchange Rate-Flawless Diamond filly trained by Brian Lynch for Amerman Racing LLC, earned her third-added money score, having previously taken the Mazarine and Bison City Stakes, at Woodbine.
Miss Scarlett Road set splits of :24.42 and :47.85 with Casa Loma and Evil Kitten hot on her heels. Contreras urged Blue Heart into contention through the turn, angling his filly to the outside for a stirring stretch run keeping just enough in reserve to head a rallying Acting Naughty and Part the Seas in a three-horse win photo. Blue Heart covered seven furlongs in 1:23.93.
Contreras, Woodbine’s leading rider with 167 wins on the campaign, was all smiles following the Jammed Lovely win.
“Today was a big day, it was very exciting for me,” said Contreras.
Contreras, who secured the 2011 riding title at Woodbine 212 wins, was full of praise for Blue Heart who has raced exclusively in stakes company since breaking her maiden in August of last year.
“She’s won on the ‘Poly’, but she ran big on the grass too,” said Contreras. “It doesn’t matter to her, she’s just a great filly and she tries hard all the time. Brian told me to be patient in this race and kick hard at the end.”
Blue Heart banked $90,000 in victory, improving her record to four wins, a second and a third from nine lifetime starts.
She paid $5.90, $3.70 and $2.70, combining with Acting Naughty ($6, $3.50) for a $36.10 (2-4) exactor. A 2-4-6 (Part the Seas, $3.50 to show) triactor was worth $148.60, while a $1 superfecta [2-4-6-1 (Evil Kitten)] came back $218.65. .
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