Frosted’s work a bit on slow side

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Frosted, the Grade 1 Wood Memorial winner and runner-up in the Belmont Stakes and Jim Dandy, worked a slow half-mile in 51.45 seconds Friday over Saratoga’s main track in preparation for the Grade 1 Travers Stakes on Aug. 29.

Working just after the track opened at 5:30 a.m., Frosted went an opening quarter in 25.84 seconds under exercise rider Rob Massey and a second quarter in 25.51. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:05.34.

“We were looking for 48 or 49, but he went a little slow. Rider error,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “He said he felt great. Track might have been a little dull early. Now we have to decide whether to go in company next time because we used to do that back and forth. He’s moving great. It’s a maintenance work, but you’d like to see a 49.”

McLaughlin previously sent Frosted out to train later in the mornings but changed up his routine the last several weeks.

“He is in a better routine going early, just doing better,” McLaughlin said. “We feel like he gets a little anxious if he doesn’t get out until 9, so we started going out at 5:30, and he’s been loving it.”

Potential Travers candidates Texas Red, Keen Ice, and Upstart were all expected to work Saturday at Saratoga. American Pharoah, the Triple Crown winner, is due to work Sunday at Del Mar, and trainer Bob Baffert will gauge whether to ship him across the country for the Travers.