Mr Freeze Regains Winning Form in Ack Ack
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Photo: Coady Photography
Mr Freeze wins the Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs
In just his second start off a seven-month layoff, Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's Mr Freeze returned to winning form with a clear victory in the $150,000 Ack Ack Stakes (G3) under the lights during Churchill Downs' Sept. 28 Downs After Dark program.
The victory marked the second graded score for the 4-year-old To Honor and Serve colt, who won last year's West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort by a whopping eight lengths while on the lead.
"I thought he would run well tonight," trainer Dale Romans said beneath the Twin Spires. "If you're going to stay up and work this late, you ought to get paid, so I was hoping he'd run big. But he ran better than I was even expecting."
Jockey Robby Albarado gave Mr Freeze a patient ride off the pace. Mr. Jagermeister set fractions of :22.95 and :45.35 through the first half-mile, and Mr Darcy was eager to take second over Mr Freeze down the backside. Mr Freeze turned three wide for home and rolled past the two horses to his inside. Thirstforlife gave chase, but Mr Freeze, at 6-1 odds, was able to maintain a 1 1/2-length advantage as he crossed the wire. The final time for the mile was 1:34.11 on a fast main track.
"He's always been a nice horse of Dale's," Albarado said. "He's always had some talent. I had the utmost respect for him as a younger horse and as he's gotten older and mature. If he's fast, you let him be fast."
Thirstforlife, Mr Darcy, C Z Rocket, Mr. Jagermeister, Timeline, Air Strike, and Unmatchable completed the order of finish.
The victory was the third start of the year for Mr Freeze. He was put away last year after a run in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) and returned mid-January to run seventh in the Tropical Turf Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park. Romans brought Mr Freeze back Aug. 11 in a one-mile allowance optional claiming event at Ellis Park. The colt led the first half by a head before finishing second, three-quarters of a length behind Mr Darcy, who pressed the pace.
Last year's Ack Ack winner, Seeking the Soul, trained by Dallas Stewart for Charles Fipke, went on to run second in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). That same path has not been ruled out for Mr Freeze.
"It has to be a discussion," Romans said of going to the Breeders' Cup. "He ran awfully fast today. We'll see how that race sets up and if it's worth going out for."
Bred in Kentucky by Siena Farms, Mr Freeze is out of the Tabasco Cat mare Heavenly Cat. The chestnut is a half brother to grade 3 winners Dilemma and Heavenly Ransom, as well as black-type winner Capitano.
Romans, as agent, purchased Mr Freeze for $75,000 from Taylor Made Sales Agency's consignment at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. From a 4-2-0 record in eight starts, Mr Freeze has earned $542,710.