Biancone Drills Lion Heart with San Rafael in Mind

Grade I winner Lion Heart progressed toward the first start of his sophomore year in the March 6 San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) by working six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 over Santa Anita's fast main track Wednesday morning.

The Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith-owned colt recorded the third-fastest time of 13 who worked three-quarters of a mile.

Stablemate Pomeroy, sidelined since winning the Kentucky Cup Juvenile (gr. III) before being disqualified and subsequently undergoing surgery to remove a chip from his right front ankle in mid-October, logged five furlongs in 1:00. The move did not appear on Santa Anita's worktab.

"They both worked good and are moving forward, just like I like," trainer Patrick Biancone said.

The French-born Biancone remains extremely focused on his two barn stars, not stopping long enough to check out the competition on the road to the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

"I'm very fortunate to have these horses. Racing is not a drama, it's a comedy. If it's a drama it's not much fun or exciting. The good thing about horses is that they don't talk. If they were baseball players or football players all they'd be doing is complaining."

Lion Heart, a Kentucky-bred son of Tale of the Cat--Satin Sunrise, by Mr. Leader, won the Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) and Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III) in record time and remains undefeated in three starts for earnings of $310,800.

Pomeroy, a bay son of Boundary and the Seeking the Gold mare Questress, was also second in the Saratoga Special (gr. II) and has banked $88,000.