Frosted Joins Classic Fray

Frosted | Sarah K Andrew

Frosted (Tapit), a winner of the GI Mohegan Sun Metropolitan H. and GI Whitney S. this year–both GI Breeders' Cup Classic 'Win and You're In' qualifying races, will officially point towards the $6-million GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park Nov. 5, Godolphin announced on their website Thursday. The 2015 GI Twinspires.com Wood Memorial winner will face off against 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) and runaway 2016 GI Travers S. hero and 'TDN Rising Star' Arrogate (Unbridled's Song). Connections were mulling a possible start in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile for the grey and Joel Rosario will be in the irons.

“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,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin explained from Greentree Training Center near Saratoga Race Course. “I'm pleased that, between everybody, we're all in agreement. What they asked me was, 'In what scenario would you prefer the [Dirt] Mile over the Classic?' And I said 'There is no scenario.'”

Added McLaughlin, “There is only a short run to the first turn in the Mile, and if you draw wide, you are at a severe disadvantage. It is also a speed race, and you can get a lot of traffic. As long as he breaks decently, he will run well.”

A winner of the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 at Meydan in February, Frosted was last seen finishing third in another Classic 'Win and You're In' affair–beaten only two heads for all the money behind Canadian champion Shaman Ghost (Ghostzapper) and stablemate and 2015 G2 U.A.E. Derby scorer Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Woodward S. at Saratoga Sept. 3. He breezed six furlongs in 1:11 flat over the synthetic at Greentree Training Center Wednesday.

Frosted's energy levels are high at present,” McLaughlin continued, who said the GII Pennsylvania Derby winner would ship to Santa Anita Sunday, before having his last serious workout going a half-mile Friday, Oct. 28. “He is a really happy horse, he feels great in himself.”

 

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