If the shoe fits: Mighty Heart all heart in Autumn Stakes victory
Woodbine Communications
TORONTO, November 14, 2021 – Mighty Heart, confidently handled by Patrick Husbands, returned to the winner’s circle with a front-running score in the Grade 2 $197,750 Autumn Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.
Trained by Josie Carroll for owner-breeder Lawrence Cordes, Canada’s reigning Horse of the Year, who lost a shoe in his last outing when he was fourth in the Grade 3 Durham Cup, came back with a stellar showing in the 1 1/16-mile main track Autumn.
Husbands and Mighty Heart, racing from the outside post in the field of seven (Vanzzy was scratched), burst out of the gate and went straight to the lead, while longshots Embolden and Primo Touch dueled in behind the pacesetter through an opening quarter in :23.86.
Mighty Heart was one-length clear after a half timed in :47.23, as Embolden held a head advantage over Primo Touch who was running in third, eight lengths ahead of his nearest rival.
Still running confidently, Mighty Heart, the 2020 Queen’s Plate champ, held a 1 ½-length lead at the stretch call as 8-5-choice Sir Winston, Durham Cup victor Special Forces, and multiple stakes winner Halo Again, all came calling.
But the one-eyed son of Dramedy was up to the task and easily fended off any challenges, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of 2019 Belmont Stakes champ Sir Winston. Special Forces was third and Halo Again finished fourth.
The final time was 1:42.51.
A rainy, cold day in Toronto didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of those gathered in the winner’s circle who gave the four-year-old colt and his connections a rousing ovation throughout post-race celebrations.
“Actually, last time (Durham Cup) was the first time I rode this horse and Josie told me to play it by ear,” said Husbands, who notched a record fifth Autumn triumph. “I had a lot of horse throughout the whole race and then by the three-eighths pole, he just paused on me and I just couldn’t get him going again. Looking at this race today, from my heart, I’m putting this horse in the race. When I walked out of the paddock, Josie said, ‘Put this horse in the race.’ I said, ‘God bless.’ Today, I put him in the race and he showed he was a true champion.”
Carroll shared similar sentiments.
“This is an exciting horse,” said the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee. “They don’t come along very often, horses like this. He had his handicap to overcome and things like that never faze on him. He’s just a good horse and he’s an exciting horse. He had a legit excuse last time when he a lost a shoe halfway around the turn and really felt vindicated to see him come back today and do what we’ve been expecting him to do.”
Cordes was equally effusive in his praise of Mighty Heart, who has his own Instagram page and a fan base that spans the globe.
“The dream continues… once in a lifetime horse, without question,” said Cordes. “He has followers from six-year-old children to adults, sending him paraphernalia in the mail, not addressed to me. It’s to my home address, ‘Attention, Mighty Heart.’ It’s incredible what’s gone on.”
Mighty Heart paid $9.20 for the Autumn win.
It was the sixth lifetime win from 15 starts for the Ontario-bred champion, who could make a start at Gulfstream before the end of the year.
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