Unusual Heat moves to Harris Farms

Unusual Heat, the leading stallion in California by progeny earnings in 2008 and 2009 and the leader this year, has been moved to Harris Farms in Coalinga, Calif., for the 2011 breeding season, stallion co-owner Madeline Auerbach announced in a statement Tuesday.

Unusual Heat, 20, stood at Old English Rancho in Sanger, Calif., for the previous 12 years.

In the statement, Auerbach said that Harris Farms will be the base of the breeding operation for her and trainer Barry Abrams, another partner in the Unusual Heat ownership. Many of Abrams's runners in recent years have been by the stallion.

Unusual Heat, by Nureyev, set a record for single-season progeny earnings by a California stallion of $5,827,513 in 2008 and had earnings of $5,184,194 last year. Through Monday, Unusual Heat led the rankings this year, with progeny earnings of $2,270,622. He has sired 27 stakes winners, including Acclamation, winner of the Grade 1 Charles Whittingham Handicap at Hollywood Park on June 5.

Earlier this year, Unusual Heat stood for $20,000, the highest stud fee in California. In Tuesday's statement, no fee was mentioned.