Kid Is Frosty again ices Niko's Dream

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- A little extra weight, a little extra distance, and a little softer turf course all made little difference when it came to Wednesday’s rematch between Kid Is Frosty and Niko’s Dream in the $150,000 Statue of Liberty division of the New York Stallion Stakes.

Kid Is Frosty defeated Niko’s Dream by a rapidly diminishing neck when the pair last met going seven furlongs over a firm course at Belmont Park in the Cupecoy’s Joy division of the New York Stallion Stakes five weeks earlier. And the result was the same when the pair squared off again going a mile on a “good” course Wednesday at Saratoga, Kid is Frosty drawing away to an even easier three-length triumph in the one-mile Statue of Liberty.

With Irad Ortiz Jr. again aboard, Kid Is Frosty broke alertly to control the pace, disposed of early challenger Bangle Gal after five furlongs then pulled away with complete authority from Niko’s Dream when sharply roused in early stretch.

Niko’s Dream, who was benefitting from a six-pound weight shift from Kid Is Frosty off their previous encounter, bided her time while kept within easy striking distance of the early leader. Niko’s Dream swung wide to loom boldly turning for home but proved no match for her nemesis while lugging in some on her left lead through midstretch. Niko’s Dream, the somewhat surprising 7-5 favorite, was easily best of the others, finishing three lengths in front of a ground-saving Sterling Beauty.

Brad Cox trains Kid Is Frosty, a 3-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, for Bad Boy Racing LLC. She paid $5.20 after covering the distance in 1:35.22.

“The main thing was to relax her and when she broke, she relaxed going to the first turn,” said Ortiz. “I didn’t know if she’d go the mile but I knew she’d have something at the end and she handled it really well. Last time I had to make a middle move and she still won, so I had a lot of confidence in her today if I could get a clean trip and just wait until the quarter pole. Everything worked out well.”