Cheapest claimer to win a Grade 1 race

[ninetoone]

C&P from an old article online:


Xtra Heat was first sold as a weanling by Pope McLean, agent for $9,100 at the 1998 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, where she was purchased by Hartley/De Renzo.

Summerfield, agent, was listed as the consignor when Scott Loring, agent bid $4,700 for her at the 1999 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. August yearling sale. She next sold for $5,000 at the 2000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May horses of racing age sale at Timonium. Consigned by Winterberry Farm, agent, she was purchased by her current trainer, John Salzman.

Salzman, who did not have her x-rayed because of a shipping timing conflict, was unaware that the filly had spots in the bones of both hind legs that had not filled.

"We got her for $5,000," Salzman told the Baltimore Sun. "I figured let's take a chance. She was a good-looking filly that we got cheap. We were just buying horses."

Even Salzman offered Xtra Heat for sale by placing her in a $25,000 claiming race on June 30, 2000 at Laurel Park. She won by a neck, earned $8,550, and has raced exclusively in the stakes ranks since.