By winning a quarter-mile race at Sunland Park March 1, Zuellas Heat became the first 2-year-old winner of 2014 and first in the Northern Hemisphere for freshman sire Southwestern Heat, a son of 2001 champion filly Xtra Heat (VIDEO).
Ridden by Larry Gamez for owner-trainer Jaime Aldavaz, Zuellas Heat sprinted clear at the start and captured the two-furlong maiden special weight race by three-quarters of a length. The filly stopped the clock in :21.22, just two one-hundredths of a second slower than the track record.
Bred in New Mexico by J. Kirk Robison & Judy Robison, Zuella's Heat is out of the winning Forestry mare Zuella.
Southwestern Heat, a 10-year-old son of Gone West, posted a 4-2-7 record from 17 starts and earned $155,340. His record includes a victory in the 2007 Sonny Hine Stakes at Laurel Park and a runner-up finish in the Hirsch Jacobs Stakes (gr. III) at Pimlico Race Course. He commenced a brief stint at stud in Australia, where he sired five foals, three starters and two winners. Returned to the United States for the 2012 season, he stands at Fred and Linda Alexander's A&A Ranch in Anthony, N.M.
Southwestern Heat is the first foal out of Xtra Heat, who won 26 of 35 races and earned $2.3 million. She was champion 3-year-old filly of 2001 after compiling a 9-3-1 record from 13 starts, including the Prioress Stakes (gr. I). He is a half brother to stakes winner Elusive Heat, who was grade III-placed, and to stakes-placed X Rated Cat.
Southwestern Heat, who has 18 juveniles in his first North American crop, commands a 2014 fee of $2,500.
