Xtra Heat

Background

Xtra Heat is a bay mare bred in Kentucky by Pope McLean. She was by far the most successful horse sired by the Louisiana Derby winner Dixieland Heat. During her racing career she he was owned by Kenneth Taylor, Harry Deitchman, and her trainer, John Salzman, Sr.

Racing career

In 2001, Xtra Heat set a new track record for six furlongs at Pimlico Race Course. Although she ran second by a neck in the 2001 Breeders' Cup Sprint to winner Squirtle Squirt, her performances that year earned Xtra Heat the Eclipse Award as American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.

Xtra Heat was retired after campaigning in 2003, having won 26 of her 35 lifetime starts and with earnings in excess of $2.3 million.

On November 3, 2002, following the Breeders' Cup, Xtra Heat was auctioned at the Fasig-Tipton November Select Sale. She failed to sell when bidding "stalled" at $1.7 million and was returned to her owners. But on November 5, 2002, it was announced that the ClassicStar partnership (consisting of S. David Plummer, Tony Ferguson, Thom Robinson, and John Parrot) purchased Xtra Heat privately. The price was not disclosed.

Stud record

Xtra Heat has produced six foals since 2004, including stakes winners Southwestern Heat and Elusive Heat.

Southwestern Heat

Southwestern Heat (foaled April 17, 2004 in Kentucky) is a chestnut stallion by Gone West.

As a yearling, he was entered in the Keeneland September 2005 Yearling Sale as hip #132. However, his reserve price of $600,000 was not met, so he did not sell at auction.

His race record was 17: 4-2-7. In 2007, he won the Sonny Hine Stakes, was second in the Hirsch Jacobs Stakes (G3) and Oh Say Stakes, and was third in the Rumson Stakes and Anderson Fowler Stakes. He retired with $155,340 in earnings and now stands at stud at Willowbend Stud in Australia.

Southwestern Heat's performance in the Sonny Hine Stakes at Laurel Park was covered in the Washington Post.[1] The reporter wrote that "Southwestern Heat is a whirlwind, but unlike [Xtra Heat], the 3-year-old chestnut colt doesn't often show the grit and stamina to carry his speed to the finish line."

X Rated Cat

X Rated Cat (foaled May 5, 2005 in Kentucky) is a bay stallion by Storm Cat.

He was entered in the Keeneland September 2006 Yearling Sale as hip #368, but he was removed from the sale before bidding began. He was then sold the following spring at the Keeneland April 2007 Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale as hip #113 for $125,000 to Grey Flight Bloodstock.

His race record was 9: 3-2-2 and he retired with $103,510 in earnings. In 2008, he was third in the Gilded Time Stakes. He currently stands at stud in Texas and bred 11 mares in 2009.

Elusive Heat

Elusive Heat (foaled April 30, 2006) is a dark bay mare by Elusive Quality.

She was sold at the Keeneland September 2007 Yearling Sale as hip #235 for $425,000 and then in the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Florida Select Two-Years-Old in Training Sale for $750,000.

Her race record is 4: 3-1-0 with earnings of $117,170. In 2009, she won the Geyser Spring Stakes and was second in the Old Hat Stakes (G3).

Don't U Baby Me

Don't U Baby Me (foaled April 24, 2007) is a gray or roan mare by Unbridled Song.

She was entered in the Keeneland September 2008 Yearling Sale as hip #109. However, her reserve price of $435,000 was not met, and she was not sold at auction.

Her race record is 2: 0-1-0 with $9,750 in earnings.

Other Foals

Xtra Heat has three additional foals from 2008, 2009, and 2010 who have not yet raced.

Legacy

On April 20, 2015, Xtra Heat's induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was announced. The horse's formal induction will take place during ceremonies on August 7, 2015 in Saratoga Springs, NY.