Frosted Ice triumphs in Bertram F. Bongard Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. - Frosted Ice started slow but took advantage of a contested pace to come with a fast finish and win Friday’s $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes for New York-bred juveniles by 6 1/4 lengths at Belmont Park.

The win validated all the late money that made Frosted Ice the 9-5 favorite over Bankit (2-1), who soundly defeated Frosted Ice when they met at Saratoga in July. Bankit, who finished second in the Funny Cide Stakes in his most recent start, faded to fourth in Friday’s Bongard after being part of the early pace along with Just Right.

Trainer Ron Moquett believes Frosted Ice is a horse that will only improve with added distance, and the son of Bellamy Road certainly proved him right Friday, successfully stretching out from six to seven furlongs.

“I think we’re just now getting to the part of the song that he likes when they stretch the distances out,” Moquett said from Kentucky, where he watched the race.

Frosted Ice broke last of the sextet under Joel Rosario, but he quickly recovered and was within 4 1/2 lengths of the pace after Bankit ran a quarter in 22.14 seconds pressed by Just Right.

Frosted Ice continued to advance on the outside and by the quarter pole he was four wide, outside of the aforementioned pair and Bustin to Be Loved.

Straightening away in the stretch, Frosted Ice took control and drew off with minimal urging.

Frosted Ice, owned by his breeder Catherine Adams-Hutt, covered seven furlongs in 1:23.12 and returned $5.90 as the favorite.

“It was funny to watch his stride beside the other ones,” Moquett said. “I knew he was going easy. I was hoping they were getting tired in front of him.”

Rosario said when the gates opened Frosted Ice “kind of looked around a little bit and lost momentum. He’s a big horse, he covers a lot of ground.”

Poppy’s Destiny, coming off a debut win at Saratoga, rallied to finish second, a length in front of Bustin Hoffman. Bankit, Bustin to Be Loved, and Just Right completed the order of finish. Risp and Dalliance were scratched.

Moquett said Frosted Ice would return to Kentucky in the coming days and that he and Adams-Hutt would discuss future plans, which could include a return to New York for the $250,000 Sleepy Hollow Stakes for New York-breds going a one-turn mile here Oct. 20.