By Bloodhorse.com
ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 21, 2020) — Madeline Auerbach lost her mare Chi Chi Nette April 20 to the infirmities of old age. The daughter of Ole’ was one of the broodmare prospects originally acquired by the California owner/breeder 17 years ago to support a young stallion named Unusual Heat.
Chi Chi Nette did her part to prove the then-young sire’s ability by producing seven winners from seven starters, all by Unusual Heat, which included grade 2 and multiple stakes winner Majestic Heat and the grade 1-placed multiple stakes winner Mensa Heat.
“We had a base group of mares that we started with Unusual Heat, and then when we saw how good his foals were, we acquired a second group and ‘Chi Chi’ was in that group,” recalled Harris Auerbach, Madeline Auerbach’s son and former managing partner of the Unusual Heat Syndicate. “She was a big mare, just under 17 hands, but it was hard to tell because all the parts fit so well. She was a big, correct mare, and all her foals had her size.”
Unusual Heat, who died at the age of 27 in 2017, went on to become California’s all-time leading sire by progeny earnings.
Chi Chi Nette, who was 21, was bred in California by Helen Smith out of the Cee’s Tizzy mare Rhodilite. She managed one win out of six starts, but offered plenty of potential as a broodmare prospect. Her second dam, Fleur de Lune, was a half sister to multiple stakes-placed Olympic Moment, who became the dam of Olympic Native, who set a seven-furlong track record in the Pat O’Brien Handicap. The family also produced grade 1 winner and stakes producer Victory Encounter.
Mensa Heat was Chi Chi Nette’s second foal and first black-type winner, winning the listed Pirate’s Bounty Stakes and On Trust Handicap in 2011. The gelding also was third in the Ancient Title Stakes (G1), Palos Verde Stakes (G2), and Eddie D. Stakes (G3T).
The mare’s heavy-hitter, Majestic Heat, was born in 2012. She raced as a homebred for Auerbach and her former partner/trainer Barry Abrams. Majestic Heat, later trained by Richard Mandella, had her best year in 2017, when she won three stakes on dirt and turf, including the Bayakoa Stakes (G2). She retired with more than $578,000 in earnings.
“Probably Majestic Heat’s best race was chasing Unique Bella who ran a 124 (Equibase Speed Rating) in the Santa Maria Stakes (G2). She did all the dirty work and then got nailed at the wire to be third. She didn’t bring her ‘A’ game every day, but when she did, she was fun to watch,” Auerbach said.
Chi Chi Nette’s progeny have won 39 races earned $1,821,069 so far. She has a 2-year-old Tamarando filly this year named Momma Mocca and a yearling filly by Acclamation .
“She was one of the neatest mares I’ve ever been around,” Auerbach said. “Last year I got to spend some time with her and her Acclamation filly, who is very nice and hopefully will be part of the broodmare band one day. I was so glad I did. ‘Chi Chi’ was fun to be around and appreciated when you were there.”