The 2009 Hall of Fame inductees were announced on Monday and, not surprisingly, Bob Baffert made it in on his first attempt. His trainee
Silverbulletday was selected in the contemporary female category, while
Tiznow was the male selection. Solid choices, but why they limit inductees to one per category is beyond me. And not that I have anything against Randy Romero or Alex Solis, but it was nice to see Eddie Maple get in. While I will always associate him with
Temperance Hill who upset
Genuine Risk in the 1980 Belmont Stakes, Eddie Maple also rode
Foolish Pleasure when the little bay defeated the great
Forego in the 1976 Suburban Handicap, one of his best races. Also, it was Maple who was the last jockey to ride the incomparable
Secretariat, winning the Canadian International over the Woodbine turf. Great memories, I’m sure, but an even greater honor to be elected to the Hall of Fame—congratulations!
Last August I argued (to no avail) for
Xtra Heat’s nomination to the Hall of Fame, so I figure this year I need to start the campaign earlier. While a successful return to the track by her daughter
Elusive Heat might aid the effort, I submit to you these recent photos of the soon-to-be-mother, looking gorgeously dabbled and in foal to
Street Cry. A huge thank you to blog-friend (and fellow
Xtra Heat aficionado)
Laurie Asseo for her wonderful photos, taken at Woodford Thoroughbreds in early April.
Xtra Heat in foal to Street Cry, April 2009. Photo by Laurie Asseo
Xtra Heat in foal to Street Cry, April 2009. Photo by Laurie Asseo
And just to add, breeding
Xtra Heat to
Street Cry is a brilliant merging of speed and stamina. Other horses bred on the Street Cry-Northern Dancer cross include G1 winners
Street Sense,
Street Hero,
Majestic Roi,
Whobegotyou and G2 winner
Street Sounds.
Thanks for posting these photos -- I love the tough glint in her eye, the windswept mane, the dapples. She looks fantastic.
ReplyDeleteYes, the glint in her eye is really something, isn't it? Back when Xtra Heat was racing, I asked Kenneth Taylor what they called her around the barn and his eyes got a similar glint as he said, "Queen Kong."
ReplyDeleteI've always felt that Xtra Heat knows she is special, but now she is downright regal. I was giving her carrots in between taking photos, and she was happy to have them. When she'd had enough, she simply turned her face away. So cute!
I absolutely think Xtra Heat belongs in the Hall of Fame. Just think, if there had been Eclipse Awards and Breeders Cup races for female sprinters back then, she would be a three-time Eclipse Award winner and a two-time Breeders Cup champion. As it was, she beat an incredible lineup of males in the 2001 BC Sprint and compiled an amazingly consistent string of stakes wins in her career.
I'm so happy to see her looking this magnificent these days.
Laurie
She is an all time great and her legacy is the special fans like Laurie that come see her each year.
ReplyDeleteGood to see you again Laurie. See you next time.
I think she'll get into the Hall of Fame sooner rather than later!
Matt Lyons
General Manager
Woodford Thoroughbreds
And we Xtra Heat fans are fortunate that she is at a farm that gives her tremendous care and is so kind to her fans. Speaking of lineups, the list of stallions she's been bred to so far is quite something. Thanks, Matt!
ReplyDeleteLaurie