Force Freeze dominates Gulfstream Sprint Championship

Force Freeze debuted at three, winning three of five starts while placing in

the Grade 3 Hirsch Jacobs at Pimlico and the Bachelor at Oaklawn Park. Force

Freeze spent the next three winters competing in Dubai, at the now-defunct Nad

al Sheba and then at Meydan and Jebal Ali. A multiple winner in handicaps, his

best finishes against stakes company were a second in the Jebal Ali Sprint and a

third in the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal, both in 2011.

Returned to the United States last spring, Force Freeze moved to the barn of

Peter Walder. In his first race back, in the July 31 Teddy Drone at Monmouth

Park, Force Freeze was sent away at 16-1 and scorched his opposition by four

lengths while completing six furlongs in 1:07 3/5. He next contested the

Vosburgh over a muddy Belmont Park strip, and finished a half-length behind

Giant Ryan. Last time, in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs, Force

Freeze gamely battled down the stretch with Amazombie, who ultimately prevailed

by a neck. Force Freeze now boasts a line of 22-8-4-3, $853,760.

"I've been coming here a long time and it means a lot to win a race here at

Gulfstream Park, but the Breeders' Cup is the Breeders' Cup," Walder said.

"There's only one way to erase that and that's by winning it (at Santa Anita in

November).

"This is the first step. I told (Lopez) when you make your move -- if you end

up getting the stalking trip we want, when you make you're move, don't hesitate.

Just put them away. You're the heavyweight champ and just knock them out."

Walder said Force Freeze would next target the Grade 2 Churchill Downs on May

5.

Bred in Kentucky by Dixiana Stables, Force Freeze was produced by the

stakes-winning Antifreeze, who also reared his stakes-winning half-brother

Barber.