Xtra Heat's romp earns standing ovation

As Xtra Heat galloped out past the finish line following her easy five-length win in Saturday's $150,000 Endine Stakes, fans along the clubhouse turn in Delaware Park's picnic area showed their appreciation by giving the star filly a standing ovation.

As expected, Xtra Heat ($2.40) had no problems disposing of four overmatched rivals in the six-furlong Endine as she surpassed the $2 million mark in career earnings by winning for the 23rd time in 30 starts. She was ridden out by jockey Harry Vega, reaching the wire in 1:10.91.

The question still remains, however, whether Xtra Heat will have one more prep in the Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park on Oct. 6 or head directly to the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Arlington Park.

Trainer John Salzman said he's leaning towards training his filly to the Oct. 26 Breeders' Cup Sprint, a race in which she finished second to champion Squirtle Squirt last year.

"We are going to take a few days and decide," Salzman said. "Chances are we are just going to go to the Breeders' Cup. If we run in the other race [Gallant Bloom] it will be 20 days from the Breeders' Cup race, plus we are going to have to ship to New York and then to Chicago. Chances are we won't run in New York."

* Trainer Alan Goldberg and jockey Mike McCarthy swept both undercard stakes on the special 14-race card. McCarthy guided Runspastum ($5.80) to a two-length win in the $100,900 Owners' Day Handicap and rode High Lady ($12.20) to victory in the $100,000 George Rosenberger Memorial Stakes on the turf.