Kimmel stablemates Frost Me, Secret Love go at it in Madde May Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Stablemates Frost Me and Secret Love show similar records, with both having won 2 of 3 starts with one second for trainer John Kimmel. But Secret Love has a stakes win to her credit, something Frost Me hopes to achieve in Saturday’s $100,000 Maddie May Stakes, a one-mile race for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct.

Frost Me, a daughter of Frosted, finished second in the Maid of the Mist Stakes last October at Belmont, which was run 12 days after Frost Me won her career debut. She was beaten 5 1/2 lengths by Laobanonaprayer, who was winning her second consecutive race of the Belmont Park fall meet.

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Kimmel said a combination of running Frost Me back too quickly, jockey Jose Ortiz perhaps using her too early, and a razor-sharp Laobanonaprayer may have contributed to Frost Me’s loss in the Maid of the Mist.

Frost Me came off a 76-day layoff to win a first-level New York-bred allowance going a mile here Jan. 8, beating three of the fillies entered in the Maddie May.

Secret Love, a daughter of Not This Time, won her debut on Sept. 24 but got stepped on and suffered a foot injury known as a grabbed quarter. In December, she was beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Rossa Veloce in an allowance before coming back to upset the Franklin Square Stakes at 13-1 here Jan. 16.

Kimmel said Frost Me and Secret Love have frequently been workmates, with Secret Love showing a bit more speed. That Frost Me has made all three of her starts at a mile or farther could give her an edge in the Maddie May. Secret Love has yet to run beyond 6 1/2 furlongs.

Of Secret Love’s ability to go a mile, Kimmel said: “I don’t see why she couldn’t go that far. She’s rateable, has a lot of try in her. She’s obviously got some quality.”

Kendrick Carmouche rides Frost Me from post 2. Pablo Morales rides Secret Love from post 7.

Brattle House, a $775,000 yearling purchase at Saratoga in 2019, shipped up from Florida on Wednesday for the Maddie May. She has made one start, taking a one-mile New York-bred maiden race by 5 1/4 lengths in gate-to-wire fashion on Nov. 22 at Aqueduct.

Runners from that race are 0 for 18 since.

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Trainer Christophe Clement said Brattle House was a bit anxious last year.

“She’s more mature today than what she was in November,” Clement said.

Dylan Davis rides Brattle House from post 8.

Make Mischief came off a four-month layoff to win a seven-furlong first-level allowance by 3 1/2 lengths here. The one-turn mile shouldn’t be a problem, and she gets the services of hot-riding Eric Cancel.

Vacay, winner of the Key Cents in November and third to Secret Love in the Franklin Square, is another contender. She is trained by Todd Pletcher, as is Shanes Pretty Lady, second to Frost Me in that Jan. 8 allowance.

Completing the field are Irish Constitution, second in the Joseph A. Gimma on Oct. 1, Cara’s Dreamer, and Teetotaler.