Freshman sire Frost Giant establishes earnings record in New York

Grade 1 winner Frost Giant has established a record in progeny earnings for a New York-based freshman sire.

The 2-year-old filly Kelli Got Frosty romped to a 9 1/2-length victory in the East View Stakes on Sunday at Aqueduct, pushing her sire’s progeny earnings for the year to $752,543. That eclipsed the mark of $709,293 for a New York freshman sire established by Precise End in 2004.

Frost Giant, a 9-year-old by Giant’s Causeway, currently ranks sixth on the North American freshman sire list, although he had fewer foals in his first crop than any other stallion in the top 20.

Frost Giant will stand at Keane Stud in Amenia, N.Y., for a fee of $7,500 in 2013. He had previously stood at Vinery at Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag.

Kelli Got Frosty – who is out of the Jump Start mare Nick’s Honor – also won a division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes and finished third in the Joseph A. Gimma Stakes. Frost Giant also is the sire of New York Breeders’ Futurity winner West Hills Giant as well as stakes-placed winners Zekes Surprise and Nonnie Connie. Overall, he has 9 winners from 14 starters to date.

“We’re pleasantly surprised at how well Frost Giant’s first offspring are doing as 2-year-olds, because they are big horses who we expect will get better as they mature and go longer distances,” said Andrew Cohen, who co-owned Frost Giant during his racing career and now manages the stallion under his Sunset Stables LLC banner.

A multiple Group 3 winner in Ireland, Frost Giant recorded his biggest victory in the Grade 1 Suburban Handicap in 2008. He retired with 4 wins from 15 career starts for earnings of $454,630.

Out of the Gone West mare Takesmybreathaway, Frost Giant is a half-brother to stakes winner Breathless Storm. He is from the extended family of Grade 1 winner and successful third-crop sire Bluegrass Cat, stakes winner and established sire Mutakddim, and Grade 1 winners Super Saver and Girolamo.