Frosted triumphs in Pennsylvania Derby

BENSALEM, Pa. – Frosted needed a win. He had been running hard against the elite of the 3-year-old division all summer, earning a piece of the purse each time but never grabbing the gold ring.

The $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing looked like an ideal spot, but there was a catch. The 1 1/8-mile race came only three weeks after the Travers, a race in which Frosted had hooked Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and battled tooth and nail with him for about five-sixteenths of a mile before flattening out to finish third.

But on Saturday, Frosted showed he was none the worse for wear following such a demanding race and scored an easy win under Joel Rosario, defeating Iron Fist by two lengths.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Frosted will return Saturday night to Saratoga and be pointed to the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

"This race came up quicker than we would have liked, but when you're even money or 4-5 you have to run," McLaughlin said. "He deserves to win a race like this. He's run three of his last four races against American Pharoah, and he wasn't here today, and we were able to shine. The good part is we came back on three weeks for this race, but now we have six weeks to train until the Breeders’ Cup."

Mr. Z went straight to the lead in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby, but Iron Fist tracked him from the outside. The pace was comfortable – a quarter in 24.22 and a half in 48.50.

On the backstretch, they put distance between themselves and the rest of the field while Frosted relaxed nicely while saving ground, maybe five lengths back.

On the far turn, Iron Fist took the lead from Mr. Z after six furlongs in 1:12.52 as Frosted readily advanced without really being asked. In upper stretch, Frosted took the lead from Iron Fist and drew clear under only moderate urging.

Iron Fist continued well to the wire, finishing eight lengths ahead of third-place Tommy Macho, who made a sustained run. Mr. Z finished fourth, two lengths farther back.

Although trainer D. Wayne Lukas had traveled to Philadelphia to saddle Mr. Z in this and Take Charge Brandi in the Grade 1 Cotillion, he was not feeling well and stayed at his hotel rather than attend the races.

Jerry Hollendorfer, the trainer of Iron Fist, was pleased with Iron Fist's performance.

"He ran well against a very nice horse," Hollendorfer said. "He will have to face older horses from here on in, but he won't have any trouble transitioning."

Upstart, the 7-2 second choice, finished fifth after being fanned wide into the first turn.

Frosted paid $4 and was timed in 1:50.04.

Frosted's win came on a difficult day for Godolphin Stable. Earlier that morning, the eldest son of Sheikh Mohammed, the head of Godolphin and the ruler of Dubai, died of a heart attack at age 33. He was to have a funeral Saturday, then three days of mourning were to begin in Dubai.

"It's tragic," Godolphin racing manager Jimmy Bell said. "Rashid was such a horse enthusiast and a super rider at a world-class level in his own right."

McLaughlin also said the day was "bittersweet.”

“It's just a tough day for everyone,” he said.