It might be the unlikely site of Saratoga in July but Danny Mullins is still winning Grade 1 jumps races.

Historic Heart, trained by Keri Brion and owned by Atlantic Friends Racing, fought off the challenge of Grade 1-winner Proven Innocent to notch his first top-level success in the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial a two mile, three-furlong hurdle handicap at Saratoga on Wednesday.

There was another Irish element to the success as the eight-year-old Fracas gelding was bred by Jim Bolger.

The gelding made just his second start off a nearly two-year layoff, following an April outing where he stumbled and lost the rider. Historic Heart also avenged a runner-up effort in this race in 2023.

Quoted on Blood-Horse, Brion said: "That was special. We've always loved him,". "We've always thought he was a top-class horse. Obviously, it's been not easy getting here. He had some issues and the owners were always very patient and good about it.

“He came here essentially off almost two years off. He's been training so good and he just has so much heart and he always had. I knew that if he got in a battle, he'd be tough to get by just off of pure will and he proved that today."

Historic Heart tracked in second through the first lap and Danny Mullins made his move approaching the final turn while Jamie Bargary had a gap open between rivals to take aim at Historic Heart.

Thrilling battle

Historic Heart and Proven Innocent drew off from the rest of the field and engaged in a thrilling head-to-head stretch duel but Historic Heart dug in to keep his head down and scored by a nose.

Former Guinness Galway Hurdle winner Zarak The Brave, carrying top-weight and giving the winner 8lb, finished another five and a quarter lengths back in third.

Mullins also rode Historic Heart to second to Belfast Banter in the 2023 Smithwick, and he said: "Maybe the tactics of the race worked out beautifully for me, true to the race. I was able to follow one [Kitten Around] and move up with good jumps and not use petrol."

"It's my first Saratoga winner and a Grade 1 race [here], it's extra special. I'm one of very few jump jockeys that gets to travel around the world and ride in all these good races, so to deliver for the owners that put the faith in me and the trainers that produce the horses, all the teams at home - that day is about them, I'm here smiling but it's all about the back team that makes it happen."

Bred in Ireland by Jim Bolger, Historic Heart had one run here before moving to Britian and winning three times for Nigel Hawke before moving to the US and he notched his sixth career victory in 24 starts.