Multiple Graded Stakes Winner Warm Heart Spotted at Gulfstream Park Ahead of 2024 Season Opener

There has been a strong start to the 2024 horse racing season. Notable horses, jockeys, and trainers have been seen competing in exciting graded stakes and walking away with a huge purse. However, few horses have yet to start their season or are looking forward to a Grade 1 start. Such has been the schedule for the filly Warm Heart. With multiple graded stakes victories in her stellar career, the daughter of Galileo (IRE) and Sea Siren (AUS) is anticipating a glorious 2024 campaign.

By competing in the G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, Warm Heart aims toward a head start. The fans of the filly will have to wait until this coming Saturday when the race is scheduled to take place at Gulfstream Park. While the filly strives to shatter both her own and a world record, just a few photos of her training at the race site have gone viral on social media.

High hopes for Warm Heart

Before the G1 event, all eyes are on Warm Heart. The 2023 season was fantastic for the 4-year-old filly under trainer Aidan O’Brien’s guidance. The story began when the filly won her maiden race at Leopardstown. A few weeks later, to everyone’s surprise, Warm Heart won the Haras de Bouquetot Fillies Trial Stakes. After that, she also won the Ribblesdale Stakes (Gr. 2), but in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks (Gr. 1), the filly came in fifth. With determination into the next graded stakes, the filly overcame her opponents to win the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks (Gr. 1) and also triumphed in the Qatar Prix Vermeille (Gr. 1).

Her winning run came to an end at the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Gr. 1) when she placed second. Although Warm Heart’s season came to a close with a third-place finish in the Longines Hong Kong Vase (Gr. 1), the filly was already a world-renowned horse. According to the X post by TDN, the filly has been seen exercising for the upcoming G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, which is only a few days away. While she certainly won’t want to repeat her Breeders’ Cup performance, the filly is prepared to leave her mark in the American racing industry.

A close call at the Breeders’ Cup

It was a spectacle to see the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Gr. 1). The gates were open, and the horses went through the racecourse in a storming fashion. The first bend saw In Italian leading the race, but the battle was happening behind the 50-1 odds horse, State Occasion. For third place, it was the fight between Warm Heart and Fev Rover, and this fight went until the last bend.

But something unexpected happened on the last stretch. Coming from the midfield, Warm Heart quickly gained ground and took over as the race leader. But a few furlongs before the finish line, Inspiral stormed from the outside of the pack, and the two horses got into a fierce duel to the finish. While the horse racing world watched one of the greatest races ever, Inspiral stole the crown from Warm Heart, just passing her right before the finish line.

Providing feedback will help us make your experience better.

Enjoyed Your Read? Let us know how likely you are to recommend EssentiallySports to your friends!