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Musical Heart parlays consistency with gate to wire win in $100K Flat Out

by Ryan Martin

Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso’s Musical Heart proved to be stakes caliber in seven previous attempts and finally broke through when maintaining his command throughout Friday’s $100,000 Flat Out at 1 3/8 miles for older horses over the main track at Belmont Park.

Never worse than third in his last nine starts, Musical Heart arrived at Friday’s engagement off four stakes placings at Aqueduct, the most recent of which was a runner-up effort in the Stud Muffin on New York Claiming Championship Day on March 27. He twice finished behind New York-bred legend Mr. Buff this winter when third in the Jazil and Stymie at the Big A. 

Musical Heart broke alertly from post 3 under Trevor McCarthy and raced to the inside of Zoomer heading into the first turn, kicking three lengths clear of his foe down the backstretch, producing opening fractions of 24.75 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 49 for the half-mile on the fast main track.

The field gained on the frontrunner, who completed three quarters in 1:14.69 with a one-length lead and was not coaxed until just past the five-sixteenths pole. McCarthy kept Musical Heart busy in upper stretch as he extended his advantage to five lengths. Shadwell Stable’s Ajaaweed loomed large with a late move in final eighth of a mile, but Musical Heart was all heart and held on for a three-quarter length win in a final time of 2:19.35.

Ajaaweed finished second and it was another 9 ¼ lengths back to multiple stakes-winning Rocketry, who made his first start since winning the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Marathon on November 6 at Keeneland.

Trained by Rob Atras, who will saddle graded stakes-placed Maracuja in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs later in the afternoon, Musical Heart brought his lifetime record up to 30-7-10-5 and earnings to $367,005.

McCarthy said the 6-year-old Maclean's Music chestnut went a little faster than ideal.

“He broke good and the instructions were not to fight him, so I just let him go,” McCarthy said. “He was going a little quicker than I would have liked, but he has a high cruising speed and that's what he wants to do. At the middle of the turn, I got his big stride rolling and he finished up strong. He galloped out good, too.”

Bred in Kentucky by Sovereign Farm and Hill 'N' Dale Farm, Musical Heart returned $7.50 for a $2 win wager.

While Musical Heart kept his good form going, runner-up Ajaaweed made amends following two distant efforts heading into Friday’s race, making up considerable ground in the stretch.

“My horse was in a comfortable spot. The pace wasn’t that fast. He was able to maintain close to the pace, but the winner never gave up,” said Ajaaweed’s jockey Eric Cancel. “I thought we had a chance to get there, but we didn’t get there in time. The winner just got the jump; from the quarter-pole to the eighth pole, he opened up a few lengths and that made him get the victory. But I’m very happy with the performance of my horse and hopefully he keeps it going.”

Rounding out the order of finish were Zoomer, Irish Cork and Air Attack.

Live racing resumes on Saturday at Belmont Park with a nine-race card featuring the Grade 3, $200,000 Westchester going a one-turn mile, the Grade 2, $200,000 Fort Marcy going a mile and an eighth over the inner turf course, and the Grade 2, $200,000 Sheepshead Bay for fillies and mares going 1 3/8 miles over the Widener turf course. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

Belmont Park will re-open to a limited number of spectators beginning on Saturday. All admission must be purchased in advance at nyra.com/belmont/tickets/.

For comprehensive information on health and safety protocols in effect for the Belmont Park spring/summer meet, please visit: https://www.nyra.com/belmont/visit/plan-your-visit.