Win Machine Xtra Heat Victorious in Cicada

Xtra Heat beat Erin Moor by 1 3/4 lengths in Sunday's Aqueduct feature, the $103,100 Cicada Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies. Xtra Heat, carrying 122 pounds and jockey Rick Wilson, won for the 11th time in 12 career starts. She covered the seven furlongs in 1:23.39 on a fast track.

Chasm was another 4 1/4 lengths back in third place, with Copewiththiscoyote in the four-horse field.

"We got the lead and she was much the best," said Wilson. "She wasn't getting tired. She waits on horses. She doesn't like me getting into her, so I just tried to give her a few light taps."

Xtra Heat's lone career loss came in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), her only start at a distance greater than seven furlongs. Her only prior graded stakes win came in the Astarita Stakes (gr. II), in which she beat Gold Mover by a neck. She is trained by John Salzman Sr. for owners Kenneth Taylor et al. Xtra Heat (Dixieland Heat--Begin, by Hatchet Man) was bred in Kentucky by P. McLean Sr., P. McLean Jr., M. McLean, P. Feringa Jr., et al.

"She gives her all every race," said Salzman. "We were actually going to take her back today thinking they were going to send Copewiththiscoyote, but it looks like they had the same idea we had with Xtra Heat. I think she's won all her races at seven furlongs easier than at six furlongs. The best horses she beat was going 6 1/2 furlongs. I think she'll go farther than seven furlongs. The money is there at a mile and over and we're going to have to think about it sooner or later. The Comely or the Stonerside Beaumont are possible next starts. The Acorn is a good possibility as well."

The filly added $61,860 to her lifetime earnings, which now total $420,220. Xtra Heat returned $2.70 and $2.10. Erin Moor paid $2.10. There was no show wagering. (Chart, Equibase)