Marten River worth a lot more than $3,500 heading into Frost King
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Owner/trainer David Bell might have gotten the bargain of the 2015 Canadian premier yearling sale when he bought Marten River for just $3,500. Marten River could be favored in Sunday’s $125,000 Frost King Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong dash for Ontario-sired juveniles at Woodbine.
Marten River had worked competitively with the older allowance runner Marten Lake prior to his June 5 debut in an Ontario-sired maiden special, so it wasn’t surprising to see him get bet down to 6-5. He made the lead right out of the gate and never looked back to prevail by 4 1/4 lengths over Courtly Manner. His 4 1/2-furlong time of 52.40 seconds translated to a 62 Beyer Speed Figure.
“He had always trained nicely,” Bell said. “He worked very easily with Marten Lake, who’s tractable. He had worked well out of the gate, showed speed, and galloped out strong every time we worked him. I thought I was a work or two shy of running, but looking at the [stakes] program, I needed to do it. He did it himself. He was very impressive.”
The Frost King has been shortened from seven furlongs this year and moved from its traditional November date to become the second stakes of the meet for 2-year-olds, a complement to the Nandi for Ontario-sired fillies on Saturday. It is the eighth of 10 races on the card.
Frost King, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Marten River, by Silent Name
Beyer: 62
◗ How did Bell get this son of the successful sire Silent Name so cheap?
“He was a little immature and not an overly impressive sort of horse,” Bell said. “I liked the way he went. He had little issues on his vet work, but nothing major, and I could live with them. He’s one of those who slipped through the cracks.”
Pachi Cruze, by Valid N Bold
Last 2 Beyers: 43-67
◗ The Maryland shipper was supplemented for $2,500 by trainer Jose Corrales off a distant third-place finish in the four-horse Tremont Stakes at Belmont. He won his only other outing from just off the pace in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special at his Laurel Park base.
Silent Flash, by Silent Name
Beyer: 43
◗ After a tardy start, he rallied belatedly for third before galloping out strongly in Marten River’s maiden voyage, which was his only race.
Dani’s Victory, by Victor’s Cry
◗ This unraced gray/roan has worked well for trainer Franz Crean, who bred the gelding.