Frostmourne regrouping post layoff

ELMONT, N.Y. – A year that began with such promise for the multiple stakes-winning Frostmourne turned sour rather quickly. Friday, following a near five-month layoff, Frostmourne hopes to begin the process of turning things around when he runs in a multi-conditioned allowance race scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf at Belmont Park.

Frostmourne, a multiple graded stakes winner at 3, kicked off his 4-year-old campaign with an allowance victory at Gulfstream Park in March. He then finished fifth in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland in April and fourth as the favorite in the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes in May. He came out of those races body sore, trainer Christophe Clement said, and was given a break.

“His last two races, his last eighth of a mile was a touch disappointing,” Clement said. “Gave him some time off, he’s training well, he’s finished off his breezes nicely, he’s galloping out strong, let’s run.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides from post 4.

Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out the uncoupled entry of Galope Americano and Village King, two South American-bred horses who were Grade 1 winners in Argentina and Brazil, respectively.

Galope Americano is making his first start for Pletcher and first since he won a Group 3 race going 1 1/2 miles in Brazil in March.

“Appears to be a horse that probably wants to run a little farther than this,” Pletcher said. “Seems like his turf works were better than his dirt; hard to say sometimes how some of these first-time South Americans will run.”

In his first start in the United States, Village King finished fourth, beaten 11 1/4 lengths, in a Churchill Downs allowance last month.

“He was stuck in between two horses, was a little keen the whole way,” Pletcher said. “I think he’ll benefit from the race.”

Zennor, sixth in the Lure Stakes at Saratoga in his lone start since winning last year’s Lure; Profiteer, Testosterstone, and Small Bear complete the field. Secret Passage would only run if the race is transferred to dirt.

KEY CONTENDERS

Frostmourne, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 99-101-97

◗ Won an allowance race off a five-month layoff at Gulfstream following a fourth in the Grade 3 Hill Prince here last October.

◗ Drops into allowance company in this spot following a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes in May.

◗ Has finished well in his last two turf works, including making up several lengths on Up the Ante in an Oct. 7 turf drill.

Profiteer, by War Front
Last 3 Beyers: 93-93-98

◗ Was third to Blacktype in an allowance race here Sept. 21. Blacktype came out of that race to win the Grade 3 Knickerbocker.

◗ Fired a bullet work on the dirt here Oct. 8.

Village King, Campanologist
Last 3 Beyers: 81-NA-NA

◗ Faded after racing between horses for about six furlongs of a 1 1/16-mile race in his first start in nine months.

◗ Came back with a bullet work at Saratoga last Sunday.