Xtra Heat nominated to De Francis

Xtra Heat, the Laurel Park-based sprinter who won an Eclipse Award last season as champion 3-year-old filly, is among seven horses from the Breeders' Cup Sprint who are nominated to the Frank De Francis Memorial Dash on Nov. 16.

Xtra Heat, third in last year's De Francis Dash, will be offered at auction at this week's Fasig-Tipton sale in Lexington, Ky. If bidding doesn't reach the $2.2 million reserve her owners have set, the 4-year-old Xtra Heat could run in the $300,000 De Francis. She has won six of seven starts at Laurel.

In addition to Xtra Heat, Sprint winner Orientate, runner-up Thunderello, third-place Crafty C.T., and also-rans Kalookan Queen, Bonapaw, and Day Trader are among the 32 nominees to the De Francis.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has indicated it is unlikely Orientate will run, but Scott Lake, trainer of Thunderello, said his horse is being pointed to the De Francis.