18th and 19th Winners for Lion Heart

19th October 2008

Leading first season sire Lion Heart added his 18^th and 19^th individual winners at the weekend with victories for smart fillies Lion Queen (2f Lion Heart x Plenty of Stars by Salt Lake) and Love Apple (2f Lion Heart x Apple Juice, by Southern Halo).

Having her first start on the turf at Santa Anita after turning in two encouraging runs when second on debut and then fourth on synthetic tracks, Love Apple duelled for the lead and then fought on well to take the six and a half furlong event by three parts of a length for the Juan Carlos Lopez stable.

Raced by Marsha Naify, Love Apple is from Group One placed Southern Halo mare Apple Juice, a proven producer as the dam of stakes-winner Fernando Po, a son of Johannesburg.

Also casting off maiden status was the Kenny McPeek trained filly Lion Queen, who improved from a close up debut sixth to win the seven furlong event on the all weather track at Keeneland by a length.

Bred by Molly Buck Partnership, Lion Queen made $97,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Weanling Sale and then $120,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Lion Queen is the third winner for Salt Lake mare Plenty of Stars, a half-sister to stakes-winners Artistic Star and Home of Stars.