Breeders Crown: Frost Damage Blues a sophomore filly pace contender

As people begin their scrutiny of the past performances for the $500,000 3-Year-Old Filly Pace to be contested this Saturday (October 24) evening at Woodbine Racetrack, they certainly will come across a filly whose name does not leap off the page. That lass would be the $6,000 yearling purchase Frost Damage Blues. Her path into the final may not be similar to her rivals, but with her second-place finish in her elimination, this daughter of Western Ideal and the Artsplace mare Art Matters proved she can compete with the elite fillies in her division.

“We got her around March,” said Tom Fanning, the filly’s conditioner. “She did not race as a 2-year-old because she had some issues she needed some time to overcome, but she does have some back class in her pedigree.”

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Owned by William Augustine, Frost Damage Blues just began her career on August 5 at Saratoga Harness in a $6,200 non-winners event and broke her maiden at first asking. She remained at that facility and in that class for two more trips to the post which resulted in two consecutive victories. The filly then traveled to Yonkers Raceway to compete in a $20,000 non-winners race on September 7. Although it was a steep jump in the class, Frost Damage Blues responded with yet another triumph and she followed that up with another win over the same oval within the same conditions.

Then it was on to Pocono Downs on September 23 and October 7, where her photograph was snapped on both occasions. Frost Damage Blues was now a perfect seven for seven in her brief campaign but was untested against stakes company. How she would handle that type of competition was a big question, but she rang that bell with authority last weekend north of the border.

“We knew when she paced in 1:51 1/5 at Pocono that she had the ability to go a nice mile,” Fanning said. “We thought the big track at Woodbine would improve her and she has steadily progressed throughout her season. So we thought why not give it a shot? Let’s see what she can do and now we will see what she continues to do this weekend.”

Frost Damage Blues will start from post seven with Brian Sears once again in the bike. One of 12 Breeders Crown races on the 13-race Woodbine card, the sophomore filly pace is scheduled as race four.