Heza Dasha Fire stands out in Champions

CYPRESS, Calif. – Heza Dasha Fire is the reigning World Champion Quarter Horse, the equivalent of the Horse of the Year. He may be on the verge of a more exclusive distinction.

Since Labor Day weekend, Heza Dasha Fire is unbeaten in two starts – the Go Man Go Handicap on Sept. 4 and the Los Alamitos Championship on Oct. 9. The 4-year-old gelding is the nation’s leading older horse and a heavy favorite to win Saturday’s $600,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos.

A win in the 440-yard race would put Heza Dasha Fire in illustrious company as only the fourth horse to repeat in the sport’s most important race for older horses. Dash For Cash was the first repeat winner in 1976-77, followed by three-time winner Refrigerator (1992-94) and two-time winner SLM Big Daddy (1997-98).

Heza Dasha Fire is the 3-5 favorite in a field of 10. Trained by Jose Antonio Flores, the gelding has not had a perfect year. Heza Dasha Fire was beaten twice by the ill-fated Moonist in January and February, then was sidelined to have a bone chip removed from a knee. He did not start again until early September but has returned in excellent form.

In his recent stakes wins, Heza Dasha Fire was away well and in control of the race quickly. Flores said Wednesday the gap since the Los Alamitos Championship is one of his few concerns.

“I would have liked to have had a race about six weeks ago,” Flores said.

Heza Dasha Fire has had one workout since his last start, 350 yards in 17.8 seconds on Nov. 7.

“We actually let him work a little” farther, Flores said. “When we gallop him, he gallops a mile and a half instead of a mile. We’re doing things to keep him fit.

“This is the best he’s held his weight. He’s sound and ready to go.”

Owned by Don, Kathy, and Shawn Meneely of Kennewick, Wash., Heza Dasha Fire has won 13 of 16 starts and has earned $1,822,737. Heza Dasha Fire earned an automatic berth in the Champion of Champions with his win in the Los Alamitos Championship.

Four other runners earned automatic berths by winning major stakes at Los Alamitos throughout the year. He Looks Hot won the Vessels Maturity in July, while Sass Me Blue won the Mildred Vessels Handicap for fillies and mares in September. Ajs High won the Bank of America Challenge Championship in October, a week before Big Lew qualified with a victory in the Los Alamitos Super Derby.

Forget It, Heat Warning, Militarist, Rite Regal, and Zoomin for Spuds qualified by having the five fastest qualifying times in time trials Nov. 13. They will be longshots in a race that Heza Dasha Fire is expected to dominate.