Frosted works toward Wood Memorial

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin still is baffled by Frosted’s performance in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth. Seemingly on his way to victory, Frosted stopped, eventually finishing fourth.

In the five weeks since the race, McLaughlin has made several changes he hopes will make for a different result when Frosted runs in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial.

After the race, Frosted underwent a Llewellyn procedure, a minor throat operation that cuts back a muscle near the soft palate that helps a horse from displacing, thus inhibiting his breathing. McLaughlin doesn’t know for sure Frosted displaced in the Fountain of Youth, but he hopes the procedure removes any chance of him doing it in the Wood.

McLaughlin is making a change of riders, tabbing Joel Rosario to replace Irad Ortiz Jr.

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By running in the Wood, scheduled for 1 1/8 miles over Aqueduct’s main track, Frosted returns to the track over which he won his only race and also finished second in the Grade 2 Remsen.

Lastly, McLaughlin has let Frosted do more than usual in his morning training. Two weeks ago, Frosted worked six furlongs in 1:11.60, starting behind two horses and finishing in front of them at the wire. On March 20, Frosted worked a sharp five furlongs in 59.85 seconds.

On Sunday, Frosted completed preparations for the Wood by working five furlongs in 1:00.25 at Palm Meadows. Frosted, under exercise rider Rob Massey, went his first three furlongs in 35.75 and his last quarter in 24.50. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.16.

McLaughlin had thought about working Frosted in company but ultimately decided against it.

“He carries his weight well,” McLaughlin said. “He looks great. He’s doing great. We decided let’s go five-eighths on his own, sit still. He couldn’t be doing any better.”

McLaughlin said he watched the replay of the Fountain of Youth dozens of times. Turning into the stretch, Frosted seemed in command on his way to victory. He was beaten 4 3/4 lengths.

“Did he pull himself up when he got to the lead? We worked him behind by two horses, and he didn’t pull himself up,” McLaughlin said. “Did he displace? Don’t know. Let’s do this to make sure it doesn’t happen. Did he struggle with the track? Yes. So, let’s go to New York where he didn’t struggle with the track. Now, we’re changing jockeys also because Joel was here to work him and loved him. So, we’ve taken everything out of the equation that we have control of.”

McLaughlin said his only concern is the prospect of a sloppy track because Frosted has not run over one before.

McLaughlin said Ocean Knight, winner of the Sam F. Davis Stakes and seventh-place finisher in the Tampa Bay Derby, is possible for the Wood. He is scheduled to work Monday at Palm Meadows, and a decision would be made thereafter. The Arkansas Derby and Lexington Stakes also are possible.

McLaughlin said Classy Class, third in the Withers and the Gotham, would make his next start in the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland on Saturday. Junior Alvarado will ride.

At Belmont on Sunday morning, Daredevil, winner of the Grade 1 Champagne last fall, worked four furlongs in 48.85 over the Belmont training track in preparation for the Wood. Tencendur, fifth in the Gotham, worked five furlongs in 1:02.11 at Belmont.

El Kabeir, the Gotham winner, had a work postponed because trainer John Terranova did not like the track. El Kabeir is expected to work Monday.

Far From Over, the Withers winner, worked four furlongs Saturday in 48.98 Saturday at Palm Beach Downs. He is scheduled to fly to New York on Thursday along with Frosted and possibly Ocean Knight.