Unusual Heat New King of Calif.

The stallion Unusual Heat broke the California record for progeny earnings in one year Dec. 11. His offspring recorded earnings of $5,608,704, surpassing Cee’s Tizzy’s previous mark of $5,597,979 set in 2000, when his son Tiznow   won his first of two Breeders’ Cup Classics (gr. I).

The 2-year-old filly Beltene and 4-year-old gelding Cinder Cone gave Unusual Heat the record. Beltene broke her maiden in the sixth race at Hollywood Park, earning $10,200. Across the country at Laurel Park in Maryland, Cinder Cone finished third to earn $3,520.

When Cee’s Tizzy established the previous record, Tiznow’s Classic victory contributed $2,480,400 to the stallion’s amount. Unusual Heat’s leading earner this year is Hollywood Oaks (gr. II) winner Lethal Heat, who has banked $426,528. His other major 2008 runners include Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) winner Golden Doc A, California Cup Classic winner Mr. Chairman, and grade I-placed Bel Air Sizzle.

“It’s $5.6 million of blue-color, solid earnings, without a million-dollar pot,” said Madeline Auerbach, who campaigns many sons and daughters of Unusual Heat, including an interest in Lethal Heat. “His horses are durable.”

Auerbach owns a major interest in Unusual Heat, along with trainer Barry Abrams and his family. The 18-year-old son of Nureyev—Rossard, by Glacial, stands at Bud Johnston’s Old English Rancho in Sanger, Calif.