November 23, 2024

Belmont hopeful Frosted clocks half-mile in company with Tamarkuz

Last updated: 5/29/15 5:20 PM











Frosted (gray) and Tamarkuz ready for their Belmont Stakes Racing Festival starts
(NYRA/Susie Raisher/Adam Coglianese Photography)





Godolphin Racing’s Grade 1 hero Frosted (Tapit) wrapped up his major
preparations for the $1.5 million Belmont S. (G1) with a half-mile drill in company
with $1.25 million Met Mile (G1) contender Tamarkuz (Speightstown) on Friday morning.

The Kiaran McLaughlin trainees took to the fast Belmont Park main
track shortly after the renovation break, minutes after fellow Belmont Stakes
hopeful Materiality Afleet Alex) turned in his final work for Todd Pletcher.

Frosted, piloted
by exercise rider Lorenzo Morales, broke from the half-mile pole a length ahead
of his older workmate, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. Frosted led throughout the move
and hit the wire a half-length in front.

The pair earned an official time of :47 4/5 while
never under asking and galloped out five furlongs together.

“They went great,” McLaughlin remarked after the breeze. “(Frosted) worked so well last week with Tamarkuz
we decided to do the same thing today. They went 47 and four and (out in five
furlongs) in a minute and three-fifths. It couldn’t have gone better. We’re all
set.”



Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2) winner Tamarkuz is slated to make
his North American debut in the Metropolitan H. along with fellow
McLaughlin charge Bay of Plenty (Medaglia d’Oro). Bay of Plenty, runner-up while
making his stakes bow in the Discovery H. (G3) last fall at Aqueduct, returned with a
gate-to-wire, two-length allowance/optional victory last month over the local
course in his seasonal debut.



“He had some time off and he came back and won his last
race impressively,” McLaughlin said. “It’s a tough race but we’ve got to give
him a chance.”



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