Xtra Heat out of Garland of Roses

JAMAICA, N.Y. - Xtra Heat, the leading 3-year-old sprinting filly in the country, was scratched out of Saturday's $75,000 Garland of Roses Handicap at Aqueduct after she coughed several times Friday morning, trainer John Salzman said. Xtra Heat would have been the odds-on favorite in the race.

Salzman said Xtra Heat coughed a couple of times before she was to train Friday morning at Laurel Park. He also left a handful of feed which she never does," Salzman said.

Since she had no temperature, Xtra Heat did train Friday morning, but was heard to cough eight times while galloping, according Salzman. Xtra Heat was also coughing while she cooled out.

"I'm disappointed she's sick, but that's racing, "Salzman said. "She's not 100 percent so we'll dance another dance."

Salzman said if Xtra Heat gets well soon, he would point her to the $75,000 Interborough Handicap at Aqueduct on New Year's Day.

The scratch of Xtra Heat leaves a field of seven for the Garland of Roses topped by Dat You Miz Blue and Raging Fever.