Coolmore shuttler Lion Heart sired his most important winner to date when Soul Warrior won the G2 West Virginia Derby on Saturday.

Soul Warrior (3c Lion Heart – Urmia by Meadowlake) relegated Big Drama and Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird into the minors at Mountaineer Park.  The winner is a stablemate of champion filly Rachel Alexandra.

Soul Warrior had won a Churchill Downs allowance and was runner-up in the Iowa Derby before causing a $23 upset with a last stride victory on Saturday.

Bred in Kentucky, Soul Warrior was purchased by Zayat Stables for $290,000 at the Barretts 2yo Sale in March 2008.  He is a half-brother to Group performing filly My Miss Storm Cat (Sea of Secrets).

Lion Heart’s northern hemisphere bred first-crop also includes Azul Leon who won the G2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar on protest last year.

The Coolmore shuttler is by Tale Of The Cat and he made a very promising start with his initial Australian bred two year-olds in 2008-09.  He sired 8 individual winners including Brisbane stakes winner Double Heart.

Lion Heart will stand for an $11,000 fee at Coolmore this year.