Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Fox Valley Redhot Passes

April 23, 2007

Fox Valley Redhot, one of the greatest race and broodmares in Illinois harness racing history, has died at the age of 20. The chestnut pacing daughter of Armbro Wolf, owned by Jim and Donna Crebs of Cantrall, Ill., was aptly named. The color of her coat was the most visual aspect of her name, but her natural talent on the racetrack was probably the best indication of her moniker.

Winning seven of nine starts as a 2-year-old, and earning nearly $200,000, Fox Valley Redhot was named Illinois Harness Horse of the Year in 1989, the first time a 2-year-old pacing filly had ever achieved that honor. The Illinois divisional champion was also that year’s season’s leader with her 1:54.2 mark, until eclipsed during the Lexington meet by Delinquent Account’s 1:54.1 mark.

Retired from racing in 1991, Fox Valley Redhot proved to be just as successful producing record setting offspring as she had setting race marks. The Illinois Harness Horse Association elected her to their Hall of Fame in 1999, and then in 2005, she was also honored as Illinois Pacing Broodmare of the Year.

The dam of 10 foals from 1993–2003, with earnings of more than $1.3 million, six of those progeny earned over $100,000 each, and seven posted race marks of 1:54 or better.

Her most famous son, based on performance and lifetime earnings of nearly $500,000, was world champion Hot Chilli Pepper. The Cole Muffler gelding, in 1996, repeated his mother’s 2-year-old success by winning nine of 16, posting a 1:52.2 race mark and earning over $115,000. Among those victories were the $50,000 and $60,000 finals of the Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes and Governor’s Cup at Du Quoin, respectively. He also earned the honor of 2-year-old Pacing Colt of the Year.

Her 1995 daughter by Broadway Express, She’s Redhot, is also a producer of world champions. Her gelded son by Sportsmaster, Hot N Sporty, equaled Lucky Z Tam’s 1:50.2 then world record, in the 2005 Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes final. He has earned over $239,000 in three seasons on the track.