‘Rising Star’ Heartland Retired to WinStar

[Wandering Eyes]

One-for-one Heartland (c, 3, Justify–Sambuca Classica, by Cat Thief), whose debut maiden victory in 2023 stamped him as a 'TDN Rising Star' under Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, has been retired from racing and will stand at WinStar in 2025. His introductory fee will be $10,000 S&N.

“One might ask, 'Why stand a maiden winner?',” said WinStar President, CEO, and Racing Manager Elliott Walden. “Well, he looks the part, he's by Justify, and he's a half-brother to Classic Empire. It makes perfect sense to us because we know what we had. He has all the credentials–pedigree, elite ability, and looks. We felt he had the ability of a Grade I winner.”

Heartland's half-brother Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) was the champion 2-year-old colt of 2016 and a Grade I winner at two and three whose victories included the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

“The way he is bred and the way he looks, the first time we breezed him I knew we were sitting on something really special,” said Baffert. “When a 2-year-old runs in 1:03 and change that is really special. That's fast. I thought he just stamped himself as one of the top 2-year-olds in the country. He was my horse.”

Bred by CHC Inc. in Kentucky, Heartland hammered for $525,000 at Keeneland September in 2022 and raced for CHC Inc., Siena Farm, and WinStar Farm. He made his lone start at the 2023 Del Mar summer meet, getting 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.20. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90 for the effort, which was the fastest time at the distance for a 2-year-old at either Del Mar or Saratoga in 2023, according to WinStar.

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