Xtra Heat, a Hall of Famer and stakes-producing broodmare, died at age 24, owner Woodford Thoroughbreds announced on Thursday.
Foaled in 1998, by Dixieland Heat out of Begin, Xtra Heat was bred in Kentucky by Pope McLean. The diminutive bay mare outsized every and all expectations by winning 26 career starts, 25 of those in black-type races, including a win the Grade 1 Prioress Stakes and six Grade 2 races. In 2001 she ran second by a neck in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, and in 2002, she finished third in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen both of which were gutsy efforts against the boys. She set a new track record for six furlongs at Pimlico Race Course in 2001.
In her races, though short in stature, Xtra Heat was all grit and determination winning 26 of 35 lifetime starts and earning $2,189,635 for her efforts. Due to her accomplishments on the track Xtra Heat was named 2001 champion 3-year-old-filly and was further recognized for her superior talent when inducted into the National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame on Aug. 7, 2015.
Upon completing her racing career, Xtra Heat was sent through the Fasig-Tipton Night of Stars sale in November 2002 where she RNA'd for $1.7 million. This was a far cry from her previous trips through the auction ring where she sold for $9,100 as a weanling, $4,700 as a yearling and $5,000 as a 2-year-old in training. In the end, owners Kenneth Taylor and Harry Deitchman sold her privately to the ClassicStar partnership for an undisclosed amount. Woodford Thoroughbreds purchased Xtra Heat privately through a ClassicStar dispersal in 2006.
As a broodmare, Xtra Heat produced stakes winner Southwestern Heat who went to stud in Australia as well as the stakes placed X Rated Cat who went to stud in Texas. In addition the mare produced Elusive Heat, a $750,000 Fasig-Tipton February 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale grad who became a stakes winner. With her commercial appeal waning, Woodford retired Xtra Heat after she foaled her 2019 Outwork colt. Since that time, she has led a life of leisure, enjoying a large paddock of green grass in the sunshine state at Woodford Thoroughbreds, located in Reddick, Fla.
John Sykes, owner of Woodford Thoroughbreds, spoke about her in 2022, saying, “Xtra Heat knows her place in the world and is always first at feed time. Xtra Heat is confident in her bearing, but easy to be around. The little brown mare with a great big heart inspires our team to look for potential in every horse.”
Today, Sykes said, “I have always been proud to have the privilege of owning and being responsible for a Hall of Fame horse. She will be greatly missed on the farm and by the team.”
The post ‘The Little Brown Mare With The Great Big Heart’: Hall Of Famer Xtra Heat Dies At Age 24 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
