Nickname Wins Frizette Driving in the Slop

Nickname, a daughter of hot sire Scat Daddy  , took a commanding lead in deep stretch to take the $400,000 Frizette Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park.

The one-mile stakes for 2-year-old fillies is a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I).

Owned by LNJ Foxwoods and trained by Steve Asmussen, Nickname won by three lengths over Nemoralia and She's All Ready, who had the lead through much of the race. She's All Ready took the rest through early fractions of :22.78 , :46.10, and 1:10.93.

At the top the stretch, Nickname and jockey Javier Castellano took the lead and won pulling away. She hit the wire in a final time of 1:37.76 on a sloppy, sealed surface.

Nickname paid $12.80, $5.70, and $3.90. Nemoralia paid $8.70 and $5, while favorite She's All Ready paid $3.10. Width finished fourth followed by Desert Tune, Anna Rae, and Where's the D.

Alex Solis and Jason Litt bought Nickname for $350,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale out of the Upson Downs Farm consignment. Asmussen said he met with Solis and Litt this winter in Ocala, Fla., during the sales about the possibility of training for Larry, Nancy, and Jamie Roth.

"We went out and looked at the 2-year-olds that they had," Asmussen said. "When this filly walked out of the barn, it was hard to believe she was one of the 2-year-olds. She just had that look and that feel about her from that moment. For things to come together so nice for our stable, the Roths, Alex and Jason—from thinking and looking at her and hoping to be in the position we are today, a grade I winner of a race of the caliber of the Frizette, is wonderful."

Asmussen said he was concerned about the sloppy track, considering her size.

"That's a lot of weight to get through the mud," he said. "She looked so good coming into the stretch; very professional. I'm extremely proud of her."

 

As for heading to the Juvenile Fillies, Asmussen said they will make sure she is 100% coming out of the race.

"With the Roths, it's always about the horses first," he said. "I do know the last time we won the Frizette it was with My Miss Aurelia, who went on and won the Juvenile Fillies."