Preakness Stakes International Scouting Report: Heart of Honor

British trainer Jamie Osborne came within a nose of winning the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) with Toast of New York, who burst onto the international scene in that spring’s UAE Derby (G2). Now Heart of Honor, the near-misser in this year’s UAE Derby, is luring Osborne into a rare stateside raid for the Preakness (G1) and potentially the June 7 Belmont (G1).

Osborne is so judicious about American targets that he hasn’t had a U.S. runner in nearly seven years, and that too was Toast of New York. Back in training after a short-lived career at stud, Toast of New York wasn’t quite the same horse. He nevertheless ran well when second in the 2018 Lukas Classic (G3), and he finished a distant fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon (G2) in his ensuing start at Churchill Downs.

If Heart of Honor hasn’t reached the same level of form that Toast of New York had achieved at this point, that’s partly because he’s been his own worst enemy. Yet he is not far off, having never placed worse than second. The well-bred colt keeps hinting that he has plenty of untapped talent, and it’s just a matter of when he gets his act together. 

Indeed, Heart of Honor arguably cost himself the UAE Derby by drifting out and letting Japan’s Admire Daytona get back up for the photo-finish victory. Heart of Honor still qualified for the Kentucky Derby (G1), garnering the second invitation on offer through the Euro/Mideast Road. Connections declined because of the turnaround from the April 5 feature at Meydan, especially given the logistics of shipping home to England and then heading right out again to Louisville. 

But Heart of Honor was made a late nominee to the Triple Crown. Osborne wanted to keep the door open to the Preakness and Belmont, and it could be significant that he’s willing to send him to Pimlico. 

At the very least, the venture is sure to help his learning curve, with a view toward a Mideast dirt campaign next year. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he takes a step forward in the Preakness and another leap in the Belmont at Saratoga.

Kentucky-conceived, British-born

Although foaled in Great Britain, Heart of Honor was actually conceived in Kentucky and exported in utero. He’s from the first crop of Honor A. P., the 2020 Santa Anita Derby (G1) hero who was fourth in the pandemic-postponed Kentucky Derby. As his name implies, Honor A. P. belongs to the tribe of Hall of Famer A.P. Indy, via his champion son Honor Code. 

Heart of Honor is out of Chilean Group 1 winner Ruby Love, whose pedigree is likewise steeped in the Bluegrass. Ruby Love is by Scat Daddy (sire of Triple Crown sweeper Justify), and her dam, Rogue, is in turn a daughter of First Samurai. 

Interestingly, Heart of Honor is inbred to multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Wild Rush, whose signature win came in the 1998 Metropolitan H. (G1). Honor A. P. is out of Wild Rush’s millionaire daughter Hollywood Story. Ruby Love descends from another Wild Rush mare, Vous, a Grade 3-placed stakes scorer on turf. 

Arqana Breeze Up buy

Bred by David Redvers Bloodstock, Heart of Honor was sold for about $44,299 as a Tattersalls December weanling. He brought almost the same amount as a yearling at the Goffs Orby Sale. 

The dark bay must have developed into a more compelling physical specimen by the spring of his juvenile year. That’s when Osborne sourced him for approximately $172,341 at the Arqana Breeze Up Sale in Deauville. 

Arqana’s Breeze Up has already produced a Preakness winner in War of Will (2019). Another famous graduate, last year’s sales topper Ruling Court, just captured the 2000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket during Godolphin’s banner Derby weekend. 

Southwell warm-up for Dubai Carnival

With his dirt-oriented pedigree, particularly through Honor A. P., Heart of Honor was earmarked all along for the Dubai Carnival. But he was ready in time to get in one educational run on the British all-weather last fall. 

Overlooked at 22-1 in an Oct. 21 novice going seven furlongs at Southwell, Heart of Honor was off a beat slow and checked early. He was unhurried near the rear until the straight, when he deployed his long stride late in an eye-catching second. 

The winner, Romantic Warrior’s half-brother End of Romance, has since turned up on this side of the pond with Graham Motion. Third in the Rushaway S. on the Turfway Park Tapeta, End of Romance was most recently fifth in a blanket finish to the Woodhaven S. on the turf at Aqueduct.

Next seen at Meydan Dec. 6, Heart of Honor improved on the step up to a metric mile. He again broke a bit tardily, but settled into a sensible position off the pace, made steady headway on the outside, and stayed on well to draw off by 4 1/2 lengths.

Osborne believed that Heart of Honor would benefit from more racing experience ahead of the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3). A Jan. 10 conditions race, over the same metric mile, filled the bill. Heart of Honor justified strong favoritism in the international market, as well as his trainer’s judgment that he had to keep learning on the job. 

Still not quick into stride from the gate, Heart of Honor found himself among horses, and he appeared to react to the kickback. But Heart of Honor adjusted, crept closer just behind the leaders, and advanced turning for home when the outside path opened up to broad daylight for him. He rallied relentlessly despite clinging to his left lead down the lane and pulled 2 1/2 lengths clear.

“He had a few quicker horses around him this time,” jockey Adrie De Vries said, “and they came across him and he got a bit of kickback. He didn’t learn much last time as we were three or four wide and he didn’t face any kickback. He still had a good old look when he hit the front, so I think there’s a bit more in the tank.

“We mustn’t forget that he was giving away five pounds too, probably to a good horse (runner-up Royal Favour), so it was a tough performance.”

Runner-up in three UAE classics

Heart of Honor was favored to make it a hat trick in the Guineas, but his slow-starting habit proved costly against a progressive rival in Golden Vekoma. The two had met back on Dec. 6, when a debuting Golden Vekoma checked in a well-beaten third behind Heart of Honor. Golden Vekoma won in the interim, and in their rematch in the Guineas, his superior tactical position carried the day.

While Golden Vekoma got the crucial first run in the stretch, Heart of Honor had the proverbial mountain to climb from near the back. He changed to his right lead and closed strongly, only to come up 1 1/2 lengths short at the wire. Familiar foe Royal Favour was another 3 1/2 lengths back in third.

Golden Vekoma boosted the form by going on to win the Saudi Derby (G3). Heart of Honor remained in Dubai for the Al Bastakiya, and the stretch-out to about 1 3/16 miles was sure to bring out the best in him. Yet he didn’t break well enough to put himself into position from his rail post, and by the time he did launch a furious rally in deep stretch, it was too late. The wire came just in time for the unheralded Galactic Star, who held on by a head.

Osborne realized that Heart of Honor needed blinkers to sharpen him up for the UAE Derby over the same about 1 3/16-mile trip. The headgear did the trick as he broke sharply. Although he then dropped off the pace, he showed a more competitive mindset when gaining down the backstretch. 

When Japan’s Don in the Mood flanked him entering the far turn, Heart of Honor smoothly went with him to accost front-running Admire Daytona swinging for home. But Heart of Honor still lacked the killer instinct as he raced between them the wire. 

At one point, he looked bound for third, until jockey Saffie Osborne (the trainer’s daughter) galvanized him for one last surge. Heart of Honor responded on his wrong lead, only to drift out just when he appeared to have Admire Daytona in his grasp. Had he stayed straight and true, Heart of Honor probably would have won instead of suffering an awfully tough loss. 

Preakness chances

Admire Daytona’s flop in the Kentucky Derby, where he trudged home last, necessarily gives pause about the merit of the UAE Derby form. On the other hand, it’s too harsh to judge him by the only poor result of his life. Admire Daytona wasn’t the only one to throw in a clunker after chasing the fast Derby pace, and jockey Christophe Lemaire noted that he was also struggling to cope with the sloppy track. 

Heart of Honor’s UAE Derby and Al Bastakiya efforts prove that he can handle the Preakness distance, and he figures to get a genuine pace to set up his closing kick. Rain in the early forecast would pose a new variable, along with the biggest question – whether he’s ready for the big stage.

My suspicion is that Heart of Honor may be using the Preakness as match practice for the Belmont. Even so, he has to run well enough here to make the journey to upstate New York plausible. 

Osborne’s traveling head lad, Jimmy McCarthy, summed up the team’s willingness to pitch him into deeper waters. 

“We still don’t know how good he is, because hopefully he’s still improving,” McCarthy told Preakness publicity. “Where that leaves us, we’ll find out. We’ve got to roll the dice and see where we are.”