Coglianese Photos
NYRA Press Release: Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confirmed Thursday morning that Godolphin Racing’s multiple Grade 1 winner Frosted will run in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 5 at Santa Anita Park.
“Jimmy Bell spoke to John Ferguson [of Godolphin], who has been in touch with Sheikh Mohammed, and they made the decision to run in the Classic,” McLaughlin said by phone from Greentree Training Center near Saratoga Race Course. “I’m pleased that, between everybody, we’re all in agreement.”
With back-to-back Grade 1 victories in “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup qualifiers, taking the Metropolitan Handicap by a record 14 ¼ lengths on June 11 at Belmont Park and gutting out a two-length win in the Whitney on August 6 at Saratoga, the 4-year-old Tapit colt had been under consideration for either the 1 ¼-mile Classic or the $1 million Las Vegas Dirt Mile on November 4.
“What they asked me was, ‘In what scenario would you prefer the [Dirt] Mile over the Classic?'” said McLaughlin, “and I said, ‘There is no scenario.’
“There’s no scenario where we would prefer the Mile,” he continued. “It’s two turns, which is a different race than the Met Mile at one turn. The [Classic’s] distance is always in play and there’s no bad post position in the Classic, so we’re happy to run there.”
Frosted, who will fly to Southern California on Sunday, turned in his final local work Wednesday morning over Greentree’s Tapeta track, breezing six furlongs right-handed in 1:11.
“He worked fantastic yesterday and came out of it in great shape and we’ve got Joel Rosario to ride [in the Breeders’ Cup],” said McLaughlin. “Everything is great except it’s a tough race. Obviously, California Chrome is going in the Classic, but we’ve known that going in. Our horse is doing great, so we’re going to have fun.”
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to sign up for email newsletters and special offers from The Turf Board!
