Frostie Anne wins Saratoga Dew on short rest
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Frostie Anne, five days after she won an allowance race here, ran her winning streak to six straight with a half-length victory over Land Mine in Friday’s $100,000 Saratoga Dew Stakes at Saratoga.
Frostie Anne won an allowance race on Sunday, one day before the Saratoga Dew was originally scheduled. But there weren’t enough entries for the racing office to card the Saratoga Dew that day, and the race didn’t have entries to fill until Friday.
Six were entered, and five ran. Verdant Pastures, under Ricardo Santana Jr., set the early pace of 23.86 seconds for the quarter and 47.95 for the half-mile, with Frostie Anne, under Junior Alvarado, stalking from second.
Midway around the far turn, Frostie Anne took over from Verdant Pastures and had a one-length lead turning for home. Land Mine, the 8-5 favorite under Manny Franco, loomed large to the outside of Frostie Anne but could never go by.
Frostie Anne, a daughter of Frost Giant owned by Michael Imperio and her trainer, Rudy Rodriguez, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:53.17 and returned $7 as the second choice.
Rodriguez credited Alvarado for his ride.
“I knew [Verdant Pastures] was going to go. I just told Junior to try to encourage his filly, and if they want to go to the lead, just sit comfortable,” Rodriguez said. “The plan worked pretty good because they went [47.95].”
Rodriguez said he was pretty confident in Frostie Anne even as Land Mine was trying to get to his mare in the lane.
“She’s a pretty honest filly. She’s got a lot of determination to win – that’s why Michael really liked her,” Rodriguez said, referring to Imperio, who suggested claiming the filly for $25,000 last December.
Said Alvarado: “Rudy’s done such a good job. Whatever he’s doing, she’s ready and comes through the races and gives you her ‘A’ game. She’s been trying in every race and really brings it.”
Land Mine finished second by 11 3/4 lengths over Pink Twist. Frosty Margarita and Verdant Pastures completed the order of finish.
