Frosted to run in Breeders' Cup Classic

The suspense is over. Frosted, a multiple Grade 1 stakes winner, will make his next start in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 5, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Thursday.

“All systems go to the Classic,” McLaughlin said by phone from Saratoga.

All signs pointed to Frosted going to the Classic over the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile - for which Frosted was also being considered - but McLaughlin said he needed to get final confirmation from Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum, whose Godolphin Racing owns Frosted. McLaughlin said that Frosted would not be pre-entered in the Dirt Mile.

“Everybody agreed the Classic was the best option for a few reasons,” McLaughlin said.

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The Classic is run at 1 1/4 miles with a long run to the clubhouse turn and is worth $6 million, and a victory could put Frosted in the conversation for Horse of the Year honors. The $1 million Dirt Mile is run around two turns, and the close proximity from the gate to the first turn could make it a tougher race for those who draw an outside post position. Lastly, Godolphin and McLaughlin have Tamarkuz to run in the Dirt Mile.

Of course, the Classic is a very difficult race, with leading Horse of the Year contender California Chrome and the electric Travers winner Arrogate in the field. California Chrome defeated Frosted by 5 1/2 lengths in the $10 million Dubai World Cup in March at Meydan.

“California Chrome is definitely the horse to beat,” McLaughlin said. “He’s a great horse, undefeated this year. It’s not an easy task. The race shape hopefully will set up well if Arrogate goes and California Chrome goes. We won’t be too far away.”

Frosted has posted dynamic victories in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at a mile and the Grade 1 Whitney at 1 1/8 miles. In his most recent start, Frosted finished third, beaten a neck, in the Grade 1 Woodward at Saratoga on Sept. 3.

Frosted is 0 for 4 at the 1 ¼-mile distance. However, McLaughlin believes that Frosted ran a good race when fourth in the 2015 Kentucky Derby, and he did run second to American Pharoah, the Triple Crown winner, in the Belmont.

“The distance is not a real concern, just California Chrome and Arrogate are,” McLaughlin said.

Frosted worked six furlongs in 1:11 on Wednesday over the synthetic surface at the Greentree training facility in Saratoga. On Sunday, he will ship to Southern California along with McLaughlin trainees Tamarkuz and Sentiero Italia (Filly and Mare Turf).