Frosted Ices Rivals in Pennsylvania Derby
Image:
Description:
Rallying three wide at the top of the stretch, Frosted put away Iron Fist and cruised to victory by two lengths in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Parx Racing.
With the win, Godolphin Racing's homebred son of leading sire Tapit snapped a four-race losing streak dating back to this year's Twinspires.com Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) in April at Aqueduct Racetrack. Of course, those four races have been at the top level—Frosted finished behind Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in three of those starts and behind Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Texas Red in the other.
Following the win, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said he will train Frosted up to the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
"He's a top horse and the last three out of his last four runs have been against American Pharoah, so it's great he (American Pharoah) wasn't here and we were able to shine today," McLaughlin said. "We'll train on and we're definitely going to point that way (to the Breeders' Cup). We're happy with a little more time."
Frosted has registered strong finishes all spring and summer, finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), second in the Belmont Stakes Presented by DraftKings (gr. I), second in the Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II), and most recently third in the Aug. 29 Travers Stakes (gr. I), where he dueled with American Pharoah on the front end before finishing third behind Keen Ice and the Triple Crown winner.
Guided to victory Saturday by Joel Rosario, Frosted showed no wear following that most recent effort.
At the start, Ohio Derby winner Mr. Z broke smoothly from the outside in the field of nine 3-year-olds and seized the early lead while guided to the rail by Luis Saez. Saez and Mr. Z comfortably punched out a quarter-mile in 24.22 and a half-mile in :48.5 while pursued by grade I-placed Iron Fist, who entered off a fourth in the West Virginia Derby (gr. II). Iron Fist engaged Mr. Z mid-turn while Frosted found room along the rail and improved his position. Coming off the far turn, Iron Fist took the lead while Frosted was moved three wide.
Mr. Z held position, but Iron Fist and Frosted edged away from him—and then Frosted found another gear that none of his rivals possessed, drawing off to the easy win. Well spread at the finish, Iron Fist finished second, seven lengths clear of the late-running Tommy Macho. Mr. Z held fourth.
Rounding out the field was second choice Upstart, War Story, Madefromlucky, Island Town, and Battle Midway. Gimme Da Lute was scratched.
Even-money favorite Frosted completed the 1 1/8-mile test in 1:50.04, returning $4 to win, $2.80 to place, and $2.60 to show. Iron Fist paid $6.80 and $5.20 while Tommy Macho returned $7 to show.
With the win, Frosted improved his record to 4-6-1 from 13 starts for earnings of more than $2.6 million. Frosted is out of the Deputy Minister mare Fast Cookie, who won the 2003 Cotillion Handicap (gr. II) at Parx (then Philadelphia Park).