Maybe it was the extra distance or maybe it was the sloppy going, but in his third start Hotfoot became freshman sire Aikenite 's first winner with a 9 1/2-length gate-to-wire romp in a $62,500 maiden claiming race Oct. 21 at Belmont Park.
Video: Race 4 (MCL) at BEL on 10/21/16
Hotfoot is raced by Dogwood Stable, which also raced multiple grade II winner and grade I-placed Aikenite. Trained by Gary Contessa, the 2-year-old gelding was unplaced in his first two starts on grass, first at six furlongs and then a mile. Friday's race at 1 1/16 miles was taken off the turf.
Bred in Kentucky by High Peak Farm, Hotfoot is the first foal out of Hotazel, an unraced daughter of Unbridled's Song. Hotazel is a half sister to stakes winner Dancing On Fire (Philanthropist). She has a yearling colt by Americain and had a filly by Take Charge Indy this year.
Aikenite,by Yes It's True, was bought by Dogwood for $225,000 out of the 2009 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s select February 2-year-old in training sale. He was twice grade I-placed at 2 in the Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes and the Dixiana Breeders' Futurity. At 4 he won the Churchill Downs Stakes and the Commonwealth Stakes (both gr. II) and placed in the grade I Forego Stakes.
The 9-year-old stallion stands at Calumet Farm in Kentucky for $7,500.
