NEWS
Abrams plans rare Breeders' Cup
double with Lethal Heat
Posted: Monday, October 12, 2009 4:49 PM
LETHAL HEAT
Benoit and Associates photo
by Ed DeRosa
Barry Abrams is considering an unusual maneuver with Lethal Heat, a four-year-old Unusual Heat filly he co-owns and trains.
Abrams said Monday that he is considering running Lethal Heat in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) on November 6 and the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint the following day. It would mark the first time any horse has contested two Breeders’ Cup races in the same year, though the World Championships have only featured a two-day format since 2007.
Jim Gluckson, a spokesman for Breeders’ Cup Ltd., said that Lethal Heat would be permitted to start in both races provided she passed a veterinary exam before each race and that neither field attracts more than the maximum number of 14 starters.
Lethal Heat finished second to Zenyatta in the Lady’s Secret Stakes (G1) on October 10 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park, just one week after finishing second against males in the California Cup Classic Handicap. She also finished third to Zenyatta in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) on August 9 at Del Mar, the first of her six starts in a 14-week period. Two Breeders’ Cup starts would give her eight races in three months.
“I’m going to run Lethal Heat in the Ladies’ Classic on Friday and down the hill on Saturday,” Abrams said, referring to the aforementioned races. “They do it in other countries. Lethal Heat ran twice last week and finished second both times.”
Lethal Heat has raced on less than two weeks rest four times during her career. She won her first three career starts at the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint course and distance, including the Santa Paula Stakes (G3).
Ed DeRosa is news editor of Thoroughbred Times
