Frosted rebounds in TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial

Frosted went back to his favorite track to earn his first stakes victory (NYRA/Adam Coglianese/Chelsea Durand Photo) Godolphin Racing’s Frosted (Tapit), out of luck in his past two Kentucky Derby (G1) preps at Gulfstream Park, thrived on his return to Aqueduct in Saturday’s $985,000 TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial (G1). Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and piloted by Joel Rosario, the 2-1 co-second choice overhauled 21-1 Tencendur (Warrior’s Reward) in deep stretch to earn 100 Derby points. El Kabeir (Scat Daddy), also 2-1, was a belated third. Frosted, a 5 1/4-length maiden winner here last fall, went on to finish a terrific second in the Remsen (G2) over this same track and nine-furlong trip. At Gulfstream Park this winter, however, he was no match for Upstart (Flatter). A distant second in the January 24 Holy Bull (G2), he was most recently a disappointing fourth in the February 21 Fountain of Youth (G2), where he looked bound for victory at the top of the stretch only to hit the proverbial wall on a tiring surface. Subsequently undergoing minor throat surgery to correct a breathing problem, Frosted trained sharply for the Wood, and rebounded accordingly. He was reserved near the back of the pack as Toasting Master (Congrats) carved out tepid splits of :24 2/5 and :49 on the fast main track. Slight 2-1 favorite Daredevil (More Than Ready) attended in second, with Tencendur a close third, while El Kabeir (Scat Daddy) was unhurried in the rear through six furlongs in 1:13 2/5.

When Toasting Master and Daredevil came up empty turning for home, Tencendur
launched his bid for glory and edged away into the stretch. Frosted, who had
steadily improved his position, loomed as the only danger to the longshot.

The farther they went, the stronger Frosted proved, and he wore down
Tencendur en route to a two-length decision. Frosted clocked 1:50 1/5 while
registering his first stakes score and rewarded his backers with $6.40.

“He didn’t break that sharp and I didn’t really want to send him out of there
and be on the lead,” Rosario said. “He was always there for me. I tried to get
him to the outside, where he’d be comfortable. The whole way, he was taking me.
That was a very good race. I wasn’t concerned with the (Tencendur) because I
know when you ask him, he’s always there for you.”

“This has been a top, special project for my team, my brother, the grooms,
etc.,” McLaughlin said. “We know he has a ton of ability and the last race
really made us scratch our heads, asking ‘why?’ He would go to the lead and
throw his head up and stop. We did everything we could to change everything we
possibly could that we thought went wrong, including the jockey just because we
were changing everything.

“It all worked out and it’s just a special win for our team and Godolphin
because he’s a homebred and it enhances his resume by winning a race like the
Wood.”

George Weaver, trainer of runner-up Tencendur, is delighted to advance to the
Derby.

“I thought we had it turning for home and opened up, but I was watching from
the ground (level) and I couldn’t see what Kiaran’s horse was doing,” Weaver
said. “We ran big. We were happy.

“I’m from Louisville and I’d love to run in the Derby. As long as the horse
is in good shape, I’d be inclined to go.”

El Kabeir offered a mild rally for third, 3 3/4 lengths astern of Tencendur.
There was another 6 1/4-length gap back to Daredevil in fourth. Tiz Shea D (Tiznow),
Toasting Master and Lieutenant Colonel (Colonel John) rounded out the order
under the wire.

Frosted has bankrolled $836,800 from his 7-2-4-0 line. He finished second in
his first two starts at Saratoga and Belmont, respectively, before breaking his
maiden at the Big A as mentioned above.

Bred by Darley in Kentucky, Frosted is out of Grade 2 star Fast Cookie
(Deputy Minister), who is herself a half-sister to 2008 champion two-year-old
colt Midshipman (Unbridled’s Song). This is the further family of Group
1-winning sire Salse (Topsider).

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