Photo by NYRA/Coglianese Photos
Frosted, who famously headed American Pharoah on the far turn of the Travers Stakes (gr. I) before tiring to finish third, will seek to get back in the winner’s circle on September 19th when he starts in the $1,000,000 Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) at Parx Racing.
Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Frosted has stamped himself as among the best colts of his generation after winning the Wood Memorial (gr. I) and hitting the board in several other major races, including the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and Kentucky Derby (gr. I). Although he hasn’t been in the winner’s circle since April, his overall consistency and talent is likely to make him one of the favorites in the Pennsylvania Derby.
Nine other colts have been entered in the nine-furlong race, including Upstart, winner of the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) and fourth in the Travers; Madefromlucky, winner of the West Virginia Derby (gr. II); Island Town, winner of the Smarty Jones Stakes (gr. III) and Matt Winn Stakes (gr. III); and Gimme Da Lute, a California shipper that has won four straight races for Bob Baffert, including the Los Alamitos Derby (gr. II).
Last year, Baffert sent out Bayern to upset Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome in the Pennsylvania Derby, and Gimme Da Lute could be poised to pull off a similar upset if the track comes up speed-favoring as it did in 2014. Last time out, Gimme Da Lute scored a tenacious win in the El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar (click here for a recap), defeating stablemate Fame and Power by a half-length.
Also in the Pennsylvania Derby field is the tough-as-nails Mr. Z, who won the Ohio Derby in June. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Mr. Z will be making the 10th start of the year, and his 18th overall.
The complete entries for the Pennsylvania Derby are as follows:
Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Morning Line Odds
1 War Story, Deshawn Parker, J. Radosevich, 20-1
2 Island Town, Brian Hernandez Jr., Ian Wilkes, 10-1
3 Frosted, Joel Rosario, Kiaran McLaughlin, 5-1
4 Iron Fist, Mike Smith, Jerry Hollendorfer, 8-1
5 Madefromlucky, John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 4-1
6 Gimme Da Lute, Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert, 5-1
7 Tommy Macho, Javier Castellano, Todd Pletcher, 10-1
8 Battle Midway, Aaron Gryder, Nick Zito, 20-1
9 Upstart, Irad Ortiz Jr., Richard Violette Jr., 9-2
10 Mr. Z, Luis Saez, D. Wayne Lukas, 10-1
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