Unusual Heat Keeps On Rolling

Like Old Man River, Unusual Heat jes’ keeps rollin’ along.

The venerable stallion, who stands at Harris Farms in Coalinga for $20,000, turned 24 on Jan. 1 and just three days into the New Year, is again the Golden State’s leading sire with three winners, including Oh Billy Billy, who was moved into first via disqualification in Thursday’s first race at Santa Anita.

In that race, three of the five starters were sired by Unusual Heat, who will have yet another starter when Huntsville runs in Saturday’s San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

‘Whichever horse gets a good trip is going to win,” trainer Barry Abrams said of the San Gabriel, which has nine scheduled to run. “For a race with a $200,000 purse, it’s wide open.” Abrams also has another Unusual Heat offspring entered in Empty Headed.

Huntsville is no stranger to the starting gate. The 5-year-old chestnut gelding will be making his 37th start on Saturday. He is reunited with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who last rode him on Aug. 3, 2013, finishing third in a one mile race on Del Mar’s Polytrack.

Smith is off to a fast start at Santa Anita this meet, with seven victories from only 17 rides, a sparkling 41 percent win average.

Owned by Abrams and Madeline Auerbach, Huntsville is usually a stone closer, though not a frequent visitor to the winner’s circle, as his three triumphs suggest. He has paid his way, however, with seven seconds and three thirds, good for a bankroll of $281,521.

The San Gabriel, which goes as race eight: Slim Shadey, Corey Nakatani, 9-2; Te Rapa, Kayla Stra, 9-2; Artic North, Joe Talamo, 8-1; Dubai You X Y Z, Brice Blanc, 3-1; Fire With Fire, Martin Garcia, 10-1; Utopian, Jose Valdivia Jr., 12-1; Empty Headed, Alonso Quinonez, 20-1; Jeranimo, Rafael Bejarano, 5-2; and Huntsville, Mike Smith, 10-1.

Black Spirit and Willyconker were scratched.