Xtra Heat romps in Straight Deal

Xtra Heat, coming off a rare loss, romped to a six-length victory in the $112,000 Straight Deal Breeders' Cup Handicap Saturday at Pimlico. She ran the six furlongs in 1:09.07, just off the track record of 1:09 set by Northern Wolf in 1990.

The victory was the 15th in 18 starts for Xtra Heat, who had finished second in her previous race, the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga. Owned by Kenneth Taylor and trained by John Salzman, Xtra Heat has now earned nearly $900,000. She returned $2.60 on Saturday.

Xtra Heat, under Rick Wilson, outsprinted Shutup and Dance for the early lead in the Straight Deal and set fractions of 23 and 45.77 seconds. Superduper Miss took up the chase on the turn, but Xtra Heat ran away from her in the final furlong. Superduper Miss finished 6 1/4 lengths in front of Shutup and Dance, who took third in the field of five fillies and mares.