Frosted Could Train Up to Breeders' Cup

Frosted, winner of the 2016 Metropolitan Handicap and Whitney Stakes (both gr. I), is unlikely to have a race this fall and may instead run fresh in the Breeders' Cup in November, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin told Belmont Park media officials. 

Possessing automatic berths into both the Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) and the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), Godolphin Racing's Tapit   colt would have a nine-week break following his close third-place finish Sept. 3 in the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) before the Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 4-5 at Santa Anita Park.

"I just got back from Kentucky and I spoke to (Godolphin Racing's) John Ferguson and Jimmy Bell and Frosted will most likely wait until the Breeders' Cup but it's not completely confirmed," McLaughlin said. "And whether it's the Mile or the Classic, we still haven't decided."

Meanwhile, Frosted's stablemate Mubtaahij, runner-up in the Woodward, is back training at Belmont to prepare for his next start in the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (gr. I) Oct. 8, McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin also noted that Watershed, third in the Philip H. Iselin (gr. III) Aug. 27 at Monmouth Park, is also under heavy consideration for the Gold Cup, which carries an automatic entry to the Breeders' Cup Classic for the winner.

"It's a step up for him; he was third at Monmouth but we think he's that type so we're going to try him," McLaughlin said.