Mr. Hot Stuff gives show jumping a try in Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover

The Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover, set to take place this week in Lexington, Ky., showcases former racehorses who have moved on to second careers in a variety of disciplines. But learning new things is old hat for Mr. Hot Stuff, who is on to his third career.

Mr. Hot Stuff, who was Grade 1 placed as a flat racer and a Grade 1-winning steeplechaser, will compete in the show jumping discipline at the Thoroughbred Makeover, which has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception in 2013. Champions are selected in each of 10 disciplines at the show, which runs from Oct. 2 through Oct. 5 at the Kentucky Horse Park and offers $100,000 in total prize money. Then fans vote by text for an overall champion among the divisional winners who is crowned “America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred.”

Mr. Hot Stuff, a 13-year-old Tiznow gelding, will be ridden by Quinn Scala, an assistant to trainer Jack Fisher, who conditioned the gelding during his steeplechasing career. Scala galloped and cared for Mr. Hot Stuff during his several years in Fisher’s barn.

“I’m very excited for Kentucky, and am just hoping to go down there and have fun with him,” Scala, who is based in Maryland, told the National Steeplechase Association. “He’s been trying very hard but can still be too excited at times. No matter what, he tries his best and usually gets things done when it comes down to competition time, so fingers crossed!”

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Mr. Hot Stuff, who is a full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Colonel John, was bred by WinStar Farm and began his career racing for that outfit under the care of Eoin Harty. He finished third in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby (beaten two lengths by Pioneerof the Nile) to earn a spot in the 2009 Kentucky Derby. He finished 15th in the Derby and, five weeks later, eighth in the Belmont Stakes.

Mr. Hot Stuff was later sold and moved to Fisher, who raced him on the flat before transitioning him to steeplechasing, with his first start over hurdles taking place nearly two years to the day after his Kentucky Derby run. He proved successful in the new venture, winning or placing in five graded steeplechases from 2011 to 2017 while knocking heads with several Eclipse Award divisional champions.

Mr. Hot Stuff picked up his first major win as a steeplechaser in the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial at Saratoga in 2013, besting a field that included that year’s eventual Eclipse champion, Divine Fortune, as well as standouts Italian Wedding and Spy in the Sky.

Two years later, Mr. Hot Stuff was beaten just a neck by 2014 Eclipse champion Demonstrative in the Grade 1 Iroquois Hurdle at Percy Warner, finishing ahead of Divine Fortune and 2012 titlist Pierrot Lunaire.

Mr. Hot Stuff picked up one more major victory in 2017, winning the Grade 1 Grand National Hurdle at Far Hills. The gelding last raced in May 2018 before being retired by owner Gill Johnston, making him eligible for the Makeover. Under the competition’s rules, horses must have raced or had a workout after mid-2017, and must have begun formal training for their new careers no earlier than last Dec. 1.