Frosted Grace tops off big day for Torres in Steve Sexton Mile
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Frosted Grace gave jockey Cristian Torres his third stakes win on the Monday card at Lone Star Park when he overtook pacesetter Touchuponastar for a 1 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3, $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile. It was another head back in third to the fast-closing Kokokomo.
The Sexton Mile was the richest of six stakes on Lone Star Million Day. Torres also won the $300,000 Texas Derby aboard Hayes Strike and the $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint on Adaline Julia.
Torres rode both Frosted Grace and Adaline Julia for trainer Robertino Diodoro.
“He’s a big part of the barn,” Diodoro said. “He’s a good rider, a good kid. I keep saying he’s got a big future ahead of him.”
Frosted Grace ($11.80) settled in the second flight in the Sexton Mile as Touchuponastar set a pressured pace, engaged on both sides through fractions of 23.13 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.17 for the half-mile, and 1:11.51 for six furlongs. Frosted Grace picked off horses on the final turn, came four wide into the stretch, and ran down Touchuponastar. The winner covered the distance on a fast track in 1:37.99.
“The horse was doing great going into the race,” Diodoro said. “So, you always need that to win these kind of races. Then, the race set up for him. And, Cristian gave him a perfect ride. He found a way through there. The horse ran big.”
Frosted Grace is a 7-year-old by Mark Valeski who was coming off a runner-up finish to Ain’t Life Grand in the $150,000 Lake Ouachita at Oaklawn. Frosted Grace, who races for Flying P Stable, was a $32,000 claim last October at Keeneland.
“We just always like those kind of tough old horses,” Diodoro said. “I just love a tough, big, solid horse that goes two turns. He’s a grinder.”
Diodoro said Frosted Grace will ship to Churchill Downs, with plans for his next start to be determined. The horse has now won 9 of 41 starts.
The Sexton Mile was named for the late racing executive who played a key role in the opening of Lone Star. The race was showcased on a card featuring $1.2 million in stakes purses, making the program the richest of the meet.
Juncture easy winner
Juncture made her second start in North America a winning one, when she swept to a 1 3/4-length win over Iko Iko in the $200,000 Ouija Board. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third to Colors of the Wind.
The one-mile turf race was for fillies and mares.
Juncture ($4.20), who was bred in Great Britain by her owner, Juddmonte Farms, had one horse beat in the early stages as she settled off fractions of 23.38 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.14 for the half-mile, and 1:11.25 for six furlongs. Juncture was angled out into the stretch and quickened, moving to the lead with ease to cover the distance on firm ground in a strong 1:34.82.
Tyler Gaffalione was aboard the winner for trainer Brad Cox.
Juncture came into the race off a close sixth-place finish in a three-other-than allowance in April at Keeneland. Gaffalione said he had confidence in Juncture, who added a set of blinkers, off the strength of the race in Kentucky.
“She settled great for me,” he said in post race interview. “Around the turn I had a lot of horse.”
Gaffalione said when he angled Juncture out into the stretch, “she just exploded.”
Juncture is now 4 for 11.
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