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Latent Heat remains hot in San Carlos Juddmonte Farms' homebred LATENT HEAT (Maria's Mon) outdueled Proud Tower Too (Proud Irish) to win a thrilling edition of the $150,000 San Carlos H. (G2) on Saturday by a neck. The Bobby Frankel-trained colt advanced along the inside to grab a narrow lead down the backstretch and was under constant pressure from the runner-up throughout, battling through quick fractions in :22 2/5, :44 2/5 and 1:08 before gamely winning the seven-furlong event in 1:21 over the fast Santa Anita track. The Malibu S. (G1) winner upped his career line to 10-6-2-1, $417,400. With regular rider Edgar Prado aboard, the even-money favorite returned $4, $2.80 and $2.40, and keyed the $8.60 exacta ($1) with the 4-1 Proud Tower Too, who gave back $4.60 and $4. The runner-up loomed large on the far turn when drawing even with Latent Heat as they approached the stretch, but Proud Tower Too didn't corner well, losing valuable ground as he drifted out into the straightaway. The multiple Grade/Group 1 winner still fought valiantly, but Latent Heat was too good on this occasion. "I thought there would be more speed and (Prado) would take a hold, but he knows the horse," said assistant trainer Humberto Ascanio, who saddled the colt while Frankel is attending the Carnivale in Brazil. "I didn't have to give him any instructions. I was worried at the top of the stretch, I thought he might be beat. I was a little worried about it at the eighth pole, but he's got a big heart." Ramsgate (Runaway Groom), Frankel's other runner, came flying up the inside late to finish another 1 3/4 lengths back in third at 17-1 and paid $6. The $1 trifecta totaled $71.90, and the 4-6-9-10 superfecta ($1), with the 29-1 Northern Soldier (Yankee Victor) in fourth, was good for $496.20. Raise the Bluff (Pine Bluff), Tontine Too (Concerto), Siren Lure (Joyeux Danseur), Harvard Avenue (You and I), Swing Your Partner (Wheaton) and Majestic Stream (Fusaichi Pegasus) rounded out the order of finish. Bred in the Bluegrass State, Latent Heat hails from the multiple Grade 2-winning True Flare (Capote), who is also the dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Art Master (Royal Academy) and recent Kalookan Queen H. victress and Grade 2-placed Indian Flare (Cherokee Run). The 14-year-old mare is a full sister to German Group 3 hero Capital Secret and a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Apple of Kent (Kris S.), Group/Grade 3 victor War Zone (Danzig), French Group 3 scorer Set Alight (Hennessy) and multiple French stakes queen and Group 3-placed River Flare (Riverman). Latent Heat has a juvenile half-brother named Eagle Strike (Storm Cat) and a yearling half-brother by Empire Maker. Latent Heat's third dam, Flare Pass (Buckpasser), is a full sister to Grade 2 winner and influential sire Buckaroo, as well as a half-sister to stakes victor Parade Marshal (Caro [Ire]), a successful sire in Argentina. This is also the family of noted stallion Stop the Music and multiple Grade 1 hero Hatchet Man. After smartly breaking his maiden last January, Latent Heat finished third in the Santa Catalina S. (G2). He sandwiched a second in the Long Branch Breeders' Cup S. (G3) between impressive allowance/optional claiming victories and tried stakes rivals again in the Perryville S. (G3) at Keeneland. Finishing ninth in the Perryville, he emerged from his only unplaced effort with an illness. Following a near 2 1/2-month freshening, Latent Heat trounced his Malibu rivals, winning easily by two lengths. He's expected to make his next start in the April 7 Carter H. (G1), and the May 28 Met Mile (G1) is also a good possibility.
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