Mr Freeze Bounces Back With Hard-Fought Fayette Victory

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Mr Freeze Bounces Back With Hard-Fought Fayette Victory
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Photo: Rick Samuels
Mr Freeze (inside) wins the Fayette Stakes at Keeneland

Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's Mr Freeze took command heading into Keeneland's homestretch and held back a stubborn Aurelius Maximus to win the $200,000 Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2) Oct. 10.

The 5-year-old son of To Honor and Serve shook off a pair of off-the-board finishes to win by a neck. It was his second victory of the season after taking the Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2) four starts ago Feb. 29.


"Today he ran like his old self," trainer Dale Romans said. "That was a rough trip for him. I wasn't expecting him to be four wide on both turns and stalking horses, but he showed what a good horse he really is."

Mr Freeze with Javier Castellano wins the Hagyard Fayette (G2) at Keeneland on October 3, 2020.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Mr Freeze gets the bob in the Fayette Stakes

Mr Freeze was second in the Fayette a year ago, when the 1 1/8-mile race was won by Tom's d'Etat. Last year, he set the pace on a sloppy surface, but this time he came from off the pace on a fast track.

Ridden by Javier Castellano, Mr Freeze was fourth early after breaking second to last in the field of nine and moved up to third a half-mile in. Mo Mosa set the tempo with opening fractions of :24 and :49.06, and Aurelius Maximus chased in second. 

Mr Freeze continued to move up and gained a half-length lead to run three-quarters in 1:13.45. Aurelius Maximus was shuffled back to fourth in between horses but regained momentum leaving the second turn and down the stretch. Mr Freeze opened by 1 1/2 lengths as he ran a mile in 1:37.92 but was taken on by Aurelius Maximus to his outside.

Mr Freeze continued to dig in and held off his rival to finish in 1:50.71. He paid $5.20 as the favorite.

"I had a beautiful trip. I like the way everything unfolded in the right place for my horse," Castellano said. "Usually my horse goes to the lead, but they got the jump on us in the first turn. I was in (a) really good position outside. Turning for home, I was very encouraged that he would get it done. He fought all the way to the wire and never let the other horse pass him. I am very proud of him. "

(L-R): Tammy Fox, Dale Romans, Javier Castellano, Hagyard presenters Luke and Nancy Fallon. Mr Freeze with Javier Castellano wins the Hagyard Fayette (G2) at Keeneland on October 3, 2020.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
(L-R): Tammy Fox, Dale Romans, Javier Castellano, and Hagyard presenters Luke and Nancy Fallon at Keeneland

Aurelius Maximus finished three-quarters of a length ahead of rallying Title Ready, who was a neck in front of Coastal Defense.

Mr Freeze was bred in Kentucky by Siena Farms out of the Tabasco Cat mare Heavenly Cat, the dam of grade 3 winners Dilemma and Heavenly Ransom, multiple black-type winner Capitano, and multiple black-type-placed Heavenly Chorus. She also produced Zayanna, the dam of grade 1 winner Wicked Whisper and grade 2 winner and multiple grade 1-placed Point of Honor. 

Romans, as agent, purchased Mr Freeze for $75,000 from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment to the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The horse has earned $1,561,950 from a 6-4-2 record in 16 starts. 

Romans said the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) or the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland Nov. 7 could be future racing options.

Video: Hagyard Fayette S. (G2)



Nashville Romps in Keeneland Allowance

China Horse Club and WinStar Farm's Nashville made a big impact at Keeneland on Saturday with a runaway victory in a $71,000 six-furlong allowance for 3-year-olds and up. The sophomore Speightstown  colt trained by Steve Asmussen pushed his record to 2-for-2 after his Sept. 2 debut at Saratoga Race Course.

Nashville broke like a rocket as the 1-2 favorite ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr. He was ahead by 2 1/2 lengths as he ran a quarter-mile in :22.18, in front by 6 1/2 lengths with a half-mile in :45.06, and carried on to win by 9 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:09.10 on a fast track. 

The time was the fastest of the meet at the distance, slightly quicker than Diamond Oops' 1:09.24 in winning the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) Oct. 2.

October 10, 2020; Nashville, Ricardo Santana up, wins a NW2 Allowance race at Keeneland.<br><br /> The son of Speightstown in now 2/2 lifetime
Photo: Rick Samuels
Nashville runs away with an allowance victory at Keeneland

Nashville was the first foal to race out of the Mizzen Mast  mare Veronique. His second dam, Styler, is a full sister to Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Giacomo and a half sister to Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Tiago. Veronique has also produced Market Cap, a 2-year-old Candy Ride  colt who placed at Pimlico Race Course in his second start, and a yearling colt and a filly foal by Mastery . She was reported bred this year to Collected .

Bred in Kentucky by Breffni Farm, Nashville was a $460,000 purchase by China Horse Club and Maverick Racing, the buying arm of WinStar Farm, when consigned by Lane's End at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He has earned $82,200.