Saratoga Report #3: Frosted Dazzles in the Whitney Stakes

Three Stars of the Week

– 1st Star: FROSTED – Bounce? Regression?  Please…Frosted would have none of that talk!  After running one of the more impressive races we’ve seen in recent memory in the Met Mile, Frosted put on a dazzling display once again when he went wire to wire to win the Whitney Stakes under only mild urging.  The plan was not to go to the front, but Frosted didn’t care about that plan…he didn’t care about anything other than winning.  You could tell from the beginning his mind was on business.  Even though he was setting a swift pace you never got the feeling he was going to slow down.  The only blemish on his resume now is his bad loss to California Chrome in the Dubai World Cup.  If he can get revenge on him in the Breeders Cup Classic he will be the Horse of the Year.

https://youtu.be/7m9NhV8lNq4

– 2nd Star: PAOLA QUEEN – How about a 55-1 SHOCKER in the Test Stakes?!?  Paola Queen sat well off the pace in Saturdays’ Grade 1 Test, and in the end that strategy paid off in a big way.  Kareena and Off The Tracks blazed the track as they dueled through open fractions of 21.74 and 43.50, and Lewis Bay wasn’t far behind them.  Understandably the race fell apart with Lightstream being the first one to pounce and take on a brave Off The Tracks.  Then out of nowhere Paola Queen came flying, and went right be them all like they were standing still.  Her closing ability going one turn was impressive, but will she be as effective closing into a reasonable pace?  The answer today is “it doesn’t matter” as you can’t take away the fact that she is now a Grade 1 winner.

– 3rd Star: CAMELOT KITTEN – Friday’s renewal of the Grade 2 Hall of Fame Stakes was about as close and as exciting as it gets!  The ultra consistent Chad Brown trainer Camelot Kitten battled every step of the way down the stretch to just barely hold off Airoforce.  The two where bobbing heads the last 50 yards with each having the lead multiple times, but it was Camelot Kitten that got the lucky nod in the end.  This horse continues to be doubted more than you would normally see with a Chad Brown horse on the turf, and he’s not the prettiest of winners.  However, he just keeps on winning races and running solid.

Flop of the Week

– FAR FROM OVER – It’s not often Pletcher disappoints at the Spa, but he did on Sunday with Far From Over who was a no-show in the Alydar Stakes.  Sent off as a heavy favorite Far From Over was last the entire way around the track, and really showed no interest.  The plan was to use the race as a prep for the Woodward, but that obviously won’t happen now.

Preview to Next Week