by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — They were nearly out the door when He’s So Hot went through the ring, but Roger Welch compelled Bo De Long, his son Pat and their friend Ernie Miller, to purchase the colt.

“He was the last horse to go through the ring at the Fox Valley Horse Sale last year,” recalled Welch. “They had just bid $40,000 on another horse and didn’t get him, so they were leaving the sale when I grabbed them and told them not to leave without this horse because he was the best horse in the sale. They bought him for $22,000 sight unseen and we got lucky that he did end up being the best horse in the sale.”

The Illinois-bred son of Sportsmaster and She’s Redhot has earned $148,050 from his first 14 starts and has seven victories, three second place finishes and two thirds. The 2-year-old gelding has a career mark of 1:52.4 and captured the $70,500 Mini Me Final at Balmoral Park on July 31, the $22,500 Governor’s Cup on August 29 at Du Quoin, the $60,350 Cardinal Final on October 8 at Maywood Park, and just finished second in the $127,000 American-National Final at Balmoral Park on Nov. 13.

Maywood Park photo

He’s So Hot has won seven times as a freshman, with earnings of $148,050.

He’s So Hot will be leaving from post position eight in the $116,700 Abe Lincoln Stake, which is the ninth race on Friday (Nov. 19) at Maywood Park.

The gelding is also a half brother to Brian And Kellie (Art’s Conquest, $203,226, 1:49.4) and She’s So Hot (Richess Hanover, $238,501, 1:51.1) and a full brother to Hot N Sporty ($496,038, 1:50.2).

“On breeding alone he was by far the best horse in the sale,” Welch said. “I believe Hot N Sporty was a world champion at two on a half- mile track. His full sister sold the year before for $95,000, so I think everyone assumed he was going to go high, but he was a bit on the small side. The whole family is, but he’s grown and matured into a real handsome horse now.”

The De Longs and Miller took the horse back home to Wisconsin to break and train him down. They told Welch right away He’s So Hot was a really nice horse.

“I’ve know the De Longs for a lot of years,” Welch said. “I trained horses for their father and my father trained horses for their father, so we have been together for a long time. They are great people because they understand the ups and downs. You don’t have to explain anything, they have been down that road many times on their own.”

The gelding is very well behaved with a great attitude, but his conditioner thinks his best asset is his gait.

“He’s an absolute dream horse that makes my job so easy,” Welch explained. “He has a flawless gait and he can go from low to high in one step. He’s like an expensive sports car; you don’t even see him shift gears.

“His game is coming from off the pace and in his first pari-mutuel start, he came home his last quarter in something like :25.2,” he continued. “I didn’t believe it myself, but I’ve watched the replay 12 times and timed it out. He can do it so effortlessly and at any time. He’s at the top of his class out here and should have a couple more wins, but he’s had some bad post positions to overcome.”

After the Abe Lincoln, He’s So Hot will be sent to Wisconsin to join his 23-year-old pasture friend Bucly, who is a miniature horse, for his winter vacation.

“They will make it paradise for him up there and when he comes back, he’ll be all fattened up looking like a million bucks,” Welch said. “Then we’ll bring him back slow and follow pretty much the same schedule we did with him last year with Illinois and Indiana races and maybe some other races on some half-mile tracks, since he is so good on them. He really is the perfect horse.”

The $116,700 Abe Lincoln Stake-2-Year-Olds
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line
1-Arockin Hanover-Marcus Miller-Erv Miller-9-2
2-Sporty Gypsy-Michael Oosting-Tom Simmons-20-1
3-Mystic Desire-Tim Tetrick-Shawn Nessa-4-5
4-Ben G-John De Long-Tom Simmons-15-1
5-Outgraygeous Z Tam-Dave Magee-David McCaffrey-15-1
6-Turn It Up Loud-John Campbell-David McCaffrey-12-1
7-King Z Tam-Casey Leonard-David McCaffrey-30-1
8-He’s So Hot-Dale Hiteman-Roger Welch-6-1
9-Fox Valley Libero-Todd Warren-Nelson Willis-10-1