Ham Sandwich became the first winner for Crestwood Farm stallion Heart to Heart when the 2-year-old broke his maiden by 7 1/2 lengths July 15 at Ellis Park.
The Kentucky-bred bay colt rated inside early in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint, challenged the leader around the far turn, then moved off the rail as he widened his margin through the stretch under Brian Hernandez Jr. The final time over a sealed sloppy track was 1:18.23.
Ham Sandwich was bred by Laura McKinney and is out of the Pleasant Tap mare Voodoo Lounge , who has foaled nine winners. The colt races for MJM Racing and is trained by Kenny McPeek.
Ham Sandwich was purchased for $17,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale from Stony Point's consignment by McPeek.
Heart to Heart, a freshman sire at 12, raced for seven years, winning 15 times from 41 starts and earning $2,035,090. He won back-to-back grade 1 turf stakes in 2018, the Gulfstream Park Turf Stakes (G1) and the Maker's 46 Mile (G1) at Keeneland, and won 11 graded stakes overall.
Heart to Heart has had two other juveniles hit the board in recent weeks—Two Hearted has a second and a third in two tries at Presque Isle Downs and Wagner was third in a Woodbine maiden special weight race.
Heart to Heart stands for an advertised fee of $5,000 at Pope McLean's Crestwood Farm in Lexington.