Crimson Frost captures Heavenly Prize

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Crimson Frost was likely headed to the breeding shed following Sunday’s $125,000 Heavenly Prize Stakes at Aqueduct. But after she rallied to a convincing 2 1/4-length victory, Crimson Frost may have given her owner, Barry Ostrager, something to think about.

“He had it in his head after this race, no matter what the outcome, that he was going to breed her,” winning trainer Michelle Nevin said. “But I think he’s about to change his mind. He’s going to think about it and let me know later.”

The last time Crimson Frost was in the starting gate was Nov. 2 in the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm Stakes at Aqueduct. She got pinched at the start, clipped heels, fell, and unseated her jockey, Harry Hernandez.

There were no mishaps Sunday.

After sitting fourth along the inside, about three lengths behind the run-off pacesetting Espresso Shot, Crimson Frost was tipped out into the clear around the far turn by jockey Manny Franco.

In upper stretch, Newly Minted, the 1-5 favorite, took over from Espresso Shot, but Crimson Frost, responding to both left- and right-handed encouragement from Franco, persevered through the lane, passing Newly Minted inside the sixteenth pole and drawing away. Newly Minted held off No Hayne No Gayne by a head for second. No Hayne No Gayne was 4 3/4 lengths clear of Espresso Shot. Happycrest was last.

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Abounding Joy, the 5-2 second choice on the morning-line, was scratched due to a temperature.

Crimson Frost, a 6-year-old daughter of Stormy Atlantic, won for the sixth time in 28 starts. Her most recent win came in the Bodacious Tatas Stakes at Monmouth Park last Sept. 2.

Despite having not run a race since she was third in the Grade 2 Beldame last Sept. 28, Nevin was confident the filly was ready to run well off the bench.

“She’s a filly that likes to run fresh, she doesn’t lay close to the pace so I knew the last part of it she was going to really try,” Nevin said. “She’s one of those fillies that wants to grind it out.”

Crimson Frost covered the mile in 1:39.57 and returned $16.

The Heavenly Prize was part of a perfect day at Aqueduct for Nevin, who won with all three of her starters on the card. Franco was aboard for three of those wins and he ended up with four wins on the day.

Franco said Crimson Frost was taking the kickback okay early on, but began to pick it up when he was able to get into the clear.

“I wanted to save a little ground on the turn,” Franco said. “When they ran away from me by the three-eighths pole, I was able to end up outside and she started making her run.”

Though Newly Minted was sent off a heavy favorite, she did enter the race having battled a foot abscess. Newly Minted was also a bit keyed up in the gate and was unable to make the lead as trainer Linda Rice had hoped.

“We didn’t have things come into the race great, missed some training,” Rice said. “I thought she would have been out on a clear lead, she was a little antsy in the gate, didn’t break that well, was in an awkward spot. I was a little disappointed.”