Frosted has Pennsylvania Derby among options

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It is not a certainty, but Frosted is being considered for the Grade 2, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 19 at Parx Racing, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Monday.

“We’re not sure at all, but it’s on the radar,” McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin is trying to figure out the best way to get Frosted to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 31 at Keeneland. One option is to train up to that race. A second option is to run in the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on Oct. 3 at Belmont Park.

Running in the Pennsylvania Derby would mean Frosted would be racing back three weeks after he finished third in the Travers. But the Pennsylvania Derby would give Frosted the chance to face 3-year-olds, and he would not have to face Triple Crown winner American Pharoah or Keen Ice, who defeated American Pharoah in the Travers.

“The more we do with him, the better he gets,” McLaughlin said. “If he continues to do well, we’ll work him a half-mile this week and see. We want to be eligible to run. Being it’s against straight 3-year-olds, we have to look at it.”

McLaughlin has not had a lot of luck in graded stakes at Parx. He is winless in eight tries, including three Pennsylvania Derbies.