Stay Hot won the GIII Cecil B. DeMille S. at Del Mar Sunday, rebounding from a 10th-place finish in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
‣ Stay Hot won the GIII Cecil B. DeMille S. at Del Mar Sunday, rebounding from a 10th-place finish in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
‣ Despite a wide rally into the stretch, Stay Hot managed to pull ahead in the final strides, showcasing a powerful late kick.
‣ Stay Hot is the fifth graded winner for Airdrie stallion Summer Front (War Front). His half-sister Prerequisite (Upstart) also had notable wins this year.
Stay Hot made a stunning comeback from a 10th-place finish in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The horse clinched a late-flying victory in the GIII Cecil B. DeMille S. at Del Mar Sunday. This bay ridgling was taken in hand and angled over from his outside post to be three wide into the first turn. He was near the back of the field through an opening quarter in :22.00.
The field bunched up as they approached the far turn. The half went up in :46.30 and Stay Hot was last on the bend. But then, he darted into contention, coming some eight wide into the stretch. He uncorked a powerful late kick to just get in front in the final strides.
Winning trainer Peter Eurton admitted, “I thought he’d be a little more forwardly placed.” He added, “As it turned out that nine hole was a little bit of a detriment, but it also helped him get outside, which is probably more comfortable.”
Eurton commented on Stay Hot’s wide rally into the stretch. “That was hard to take, but he seemed like he had something left and it was a fight to the wire. I’m exhausted.”
Stay Hot began his career with two six-furlong efforts over the main track at Del Mar. He finished third Aug. 5 and sixth Sept. 2. Then, he moved to the lawn for a stylish maiden win over one mile at Santa Anita Oct. 7. He was beaten 5 1/2 lengths a month ago on Breeders’ Cup weekend in Arcadia.
Pedigree Notes: Stay Hot is the fifth graded winner for Airdrie stallion Summer Front (War Front). His half-sister Prerequisite (Upstart) won this year’s GII Wonder Again S. and was second in the GI Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational. Etsu has a yearling colt by Complexity who sold to Greg Foley for $95,000 at this year’s Fasig-Tipton October sale. The mare produced a colt by Upstart this year and was not bred back. The winner’s third dam, Fly North, produced champion Farda Amiga (Broad Brush).
Stay Hot charged down the turf course to claim the Grade III Cecil B DeMille Stakes. The race was held on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at Del Mar. The 2-year-old ridgling, sired by Summer Front, won his first Black Type and Graded Stakes win. He was bred by Brereton C. Jones and trained by Peter Eurton. The jockey was Antonio Fresu.
Stay Hot’s lifetime record stands at 5-2-0-1, with earnings of $116,940. He is a half-brother to Prerequisite (Upstart), a GSW & GISP, with earnings of $271,000. The race also featured Rothschild, a 2-year-old colt by Uncle Mo, and Miracle Mark, a 2-year-old colt by Constitution. Rothschild and Miracle Mark both achieved their first Black Type and Graded Black Type.
