Heat Haze Retired; Breeding Plans Undecided

Khalid Abdullah's homebred Heat Haze, runner-up for Eclipse Award honors as best turf female in 2003, arrived at the owner's Juddmonte Farms near Lexington Feb. 17 to begin her career as a broodmare. The 5-year-old daughter of Green Desert retired with $1,183,696 in earnings.

Trained in the U.S. by Bobby Frankel, Heat Haze won last's year Beverly D. (gr. IT), Matriarch (gr. IT), and Citgo Distaff Turf Mile (gr. IIIT) Stakes, plus the Las Cienegas Handicap (gr. IIIT), with stakes-placings in the Diana Handicap (gr. IT) and Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (gr. IT). In the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT), she ran fourth, beaten 2 3/4 lengths by subsequent grass champion Islington.

Bred in Great Britain, Heat Haze began her career in France, where she won the Prix Coronation and placed in the Prix de la Calonne. She also started once in Ireland and was retired with seven wins from 14 starts.

Heat Haze is a half-sister to champions Banks Hill and Dansili and stakes winner Intercontinental. Banks Hill, by Danehill, produced her first foal, a Kingmambo colt, Feb. 2 at Juddmonte. No decision has officially been reached as to a mate for Heat Haze.