Pacific Heat targets Grade 1 Starlet

DEL MAR, Calif. – Pacific Heat has shown rapid improvement in her two starts and will run next in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 12.

After beating maidens at Los Alamitos in September, Pacific Heat won her stakes debut in the $201,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies for California-breds on Thursday, the opening day of the Del Mar autumn meeting.

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Pacific Heat closed from fourth to take the lead in early stretch and drew off to win the seven-furlong race by a commanding 5 1/4 lengths.

“It was awesome,” trainer Peter Eurton said by phone from Kentucky. “It was good to see.”

Sent off favored in a field of 12, Pacific Heat ($4.80) was timed in 1:24.31. The filly has earned $140,000.

Eurton said Pacific Heat will be supplemented to the $300,000 Starlet Stakes.

Pacific Heat, by top California stallion Unusual Heat, topped the 2014 Barretts October yearling sale at $175,000. She races for Joe Ciaglia, Mike Burns, and Sharon Alesia.

Pacific Heat won her debut by 13 1/2 lengths in a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos on Sept. 25.

“That was a surprise in her first start,” Eurton said.

While the immediate focus is a top-class race on dirt, Eurton said Pacific Heat could be versatile enough to try turf at some point.

“She looks like a dirt horse, but with that pedigree, you’ve got to think grass,” he said.