AWAD S., $100,000, BEL, 10-29, 2yo, 1mT, 1:38.12, yl.
1–#FROSTMOURNE, 122, c, 2, by Speightstown
1st Dam: Leaning Tower, by Theatrical (Ire)
2nd Dam: Valse Musette, by Halo
3rd Dam: Miss Dancer, by Legend Dancer
($375,000 RNA Ylg '15 KEESEP). O/B-Green Lantern Stables,
LLC (KY); T-Christophe Clement; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $60,000.
Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $119,800. *1/2 to Karelian
(Bertrando), GISW, $788,675; and Colgan's Chip (Cee's Tizzy),
GSP, $233,377.[bullet ad=”paramount-congratulations”]2–Royal by Nature (Ire), 122, c, 2, Myboycharlie (Ire)–Grey
Lina, by Empire Maker. O/B-Sheik Abdullah Saeed Almaddah
(IRE); T-Brad H. Cox. $20,000.
3–Bonus Points, 122, c, 2, Majestic Warrior–Baby Love, by Not
For Love. ($6,500 Wlg '14 EASDEC; $35,000 Ylg '15 EASOCT;
$60,000 RNA 2yo '16 OBSAPR). O-Three Diamonds Farm;
B-Country Life Farm (MD); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $10,000.[bullet ad=”maryland-shell”]Margins: 3HF, 3 3/4, HF. Odds: 3.55, 2.60, 10.50.
Also Ran: Heaven Is Waiting, D'yer Mak'er, Harlan's Harmony, Hot and Heavy, Bookew Bucks. Scratched: Undulated.
Frostmourne proved both his ability and that he still has some growing up to do, overcoming a rank run to explode away in the stretch for an impressive score in the Awad S. at Belmont.
A first-out victor with a rail-skimming run Sept. 3 at Saratoga, the homebred was keen and checked some early and flattened to be fourth behind 'TDN Rising Star' Oscar Performance (Kitten's Joy) in the GIII Pilgrim S. here Oct. 1. Off as the third choice in this spot after being reluctant to load, Frostmourne broke on top but was reined in to run fifth in the early stages and frequently tossed his head about down the backstretch run. Still appearing uncomfortable midway on the far bend, the dark bay was shifted out one path nearing the top of the lane and showed no ill effects from his choppy trip, easily blowing by frontrunner Royal by Nature and drawing away strongly in the final furlong. The pacesetter was clearly second-best. Race favorite Heavin Is Waiting (Creative Cause) could only manage fourth.
“He's always trained like a nice horse,” said winning trainer Christophe Clement. “We were disappointed in the results from the Pilgrim, but that was won by a good horse. Today, I knew Jose [Ortiz] had to fight him a little, but he was more restrained and finished very well. We'll put him away and come back sometime next year in the spring. I'm not sure where yet, it could be Tampa, Gulfstream or Keeneland.”
Ortiz added: “He broke really sharp. I didn't want to be on the lead, so I tried to just settle him, but he started throwing his head on me. For a moment I thought he was rank, but after he did it a second time after a half-mile going to the three-eighths pole, he relaxed a little better. That was the key. I got a good trip behind the leader. When I brought him out in the stretch, he had plenty of run.” Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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