Classic Star Stable’s Southwestern Heat, the first foal of champion filly sprinter Xtra Heat, won his first race April 11 in impressive style.
Trained by Tim Salzman and ridden by Eric Camacho, Southwestern Heat burst to the lead from his outside post in the 51/2 furlong maiden test and quickly opened a commanding lead, running the first quarter in :21.94 and the half-mile in :44.82. The pair widened their advantage on the field through the turn and Camacho brought the 3-year-old colt under the finish line in 1:03.36, 13 lengths in front of his nearest competitor. Southwestern Heat paid $4.
“He is fast,” Camcaho said. “To go 44 and 4 on this track is impressive. We broke out of the gate and once he got on his feet it was over. Going down the backside I looked back and could hardly see the rest of the field.”
The son of Gone Westwas transferred to the barn of Salzman two months ago after starting five times in Kentucky with trainer Dale Romans with three third place finishes on his resume. Salzman’s father John co-owned and conditioned Xtra Heat, the 2001 Eclipse Award winner for top three-year-old filly.
“Classic Star just called dad and asked if we would like to take him,” Salzman said. “Of course you want something like that. Classic Star is the greatest for sending a horse like that to me. He has done nothing wrong since we got him. He is like his mother with muscle tone on top of muscle.”
Earlier this decade Laurel Park-based Xtra Heat was the most dominate female sprinter in the country-winning 26 races for nearly $2.4 million.