Mr Freeze Retired, to Stand Stud in Ohio

Grade 1-placed, multiple graded stakes winner Mr Freeze   has been retired to stud at Raimonde Farms near Wooster, Ohio, Dale Romans announced Aug. 23.

Romans trained the 7-year-old son of To Honor and Serve  for owners Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister for four years. He found the horse as a yearling at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he bought him for $75,000 out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.

Mr Freeze went on to race from 3 to 6, compiling a 6-4-2 record from 19 starts and earning $1,595,600. He won four graded stakes—Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2), Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2), West Virginia Derby (G3), and Ack Ack Stakes (G3)—and was second in the 2020 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy and third in the Clark Stakes Presented by Norton Healthcare (G1).

"He was a gifted horse with a great mind. He ran with the best and we couldn't be happier about this opportunity," Romans said.

Paul Devine, an Ohio breeding industry advocate with Devine Line Stables, brokered the deal with Brian Raimonde.

"I was looking for a talented, durable runner with a tremendous female family. Mr Freeze certainly fit those requirements," said Devine. "Not only did Mr Freeze win almost $1.6 million dollars on the track, but he is also a beautiful horse, and I think Ohio breeders will be very pleased when they see him."

Raimonde said Mr Freeze's strong record in top races on the dirt makes him a perfect fit for Ohio's breeding program.

"It's rare to find a stallion prospect that maintained his form so long into his career, winning graded stakes at ages 3, 4 and 5," he said.

The Ohio Accredited program offers 14 stakes worth more than $1 million combined strictly for Ohio-breds that are sired by Ohio stallions. Ohio Accredited horses can also run in 29 Ohio-bred stakes with purses in excess of $2.9 million, according to Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners executive director Mike Annechino.

Mr Freeze was bred in Kentucky by Siena Farms out of the Tabasco Cat daughter Heavenly Cat, who is the dam or granddam of 11 stakes performers. He is a half brother to grade 3 winners Dilemma  (Grand Slam) and Heavenly Ransom  (Red Ransom) to grade 2-placed, stakes winner Capitano . Heavenly Cat is also the granddam of grade 1 winner Wicked Whisper  and multiple grade 1-placed, Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) winner Point of Honor .