Unusual Heat to stand at Harris Farms for $20,000

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Unusual Heat, who leads California’s stallions in progeny earnings, will stand for $20,000 in 2011, the same as last year, according to the syndicate that owns the 20-year-old.

Unusual Heat will stand his first season at Harris Farms in Coalinga, Calif., in 2011, having previously stood at Old English Rancho in Sanger, Calif.

Through Thursday, Unusual Heat had 2010 progeny earnings of $4,218,570, leaving him 42nd on the national list. In 2009, Unusual Heat had progeny earnings of $5,184,194, and finished the year ranked 29th on the national list.

In 2008, Unusual Heat set a California record for single-season progeny earnings of $5,827,513.

This year, Unusual Heat’s leading runner has been The Usual Q. T., who won the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar in July and was third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs earlier this month. The Usual Q. T. has earned $888,570 this year. The stallion has also sired two other Grade 1 winners in 2010 – Unusual Suspect (Hollywood Turf Cup) and Acclamation (Charles Whittingham Handicap).

Mobilized ready to step up

Mobilized’s half-length win in an optional claimer against open company at Hollywood Park on Thursday has convinced trainer Gary Mandella that the 4-year-old colt can be effective in stakes.

Mobilized rallied from fourth in a field of five to win the $52,184 race over 1 1/16 miles and end a five-race losing streak. The losses include a third in the $150,000 Tiznow Stakes in April and a fifth in the California Cup Classic on Oct. 30.

“He’s run against some tough horses,” Mandella said. “He’s getting a little more settled and he’s getting better as he gets older. Hopefully, we can do a little bit more.”

Mobilized has won 4 of 14 starts and $183,482 for Double JH Stables and the estate of Robert Reseigne.

Mobilized was bred by Reseigne, who died last winter, days before Mobilized won an allowance race at Santa Anita, Mandella said.

“I can’t tell you how much of a big deal it was when this horse won that race,” he said.

Reseigne’s family, led by son Bob Jr., sold a 50-percent interest in Mobilized to Double JH Stables earlier this year, but wanted to retain an interest in the colt. “They know how much [their father] liked the horse,” Mandella said.

By Soul of the Matter, Mobilized won his debut at Santa Anita in September 2008 in a 43-1 upset, and made only one more start that year. He won his 3-year-old debut at Del Mar the following summer and paid 13-1 in that win.

Mobilized, who is out of the Red Ransom mare Valleyofthebells, is a half-brother to Bellsblade, who was bred and raced by Reseigne and won the 2008 Work the Crowd Handicap at Bay Meadows. Bellsblade won four races in a career that began in maiden claiming races.

Mandella said that Mobilized will be pointed for the $75,000 On Trust Handicap over 7 1/2 furlongs here on Dec. 19, the final day of the Hollywood Park autumn meeting. The Tiznow Stakes was run over 7 1/2 furlongs, and Mobilized was beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Fantasy Free after closing from last of seven in that field.

For the upcoming Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, Mandella is considering running Mobilized in the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Turf over 1 1/8 miles for California-breds and Florida-breds on Jan. 29.

“I can’t give a reason to pass the On Trust,” Mandella said. “Then we can go back to running long.”