Mr Freeze draws away in Gulfstream Park Mile

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – In what trainer Dale Romans called a breakthrough performance, Mr Freeze drew off to a convincing three-length victory over Phat Man to add Saturday’s Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile to an already impressive resume that also includes a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup earlier in the meet.

With jockey Manny Franco substituting for Luis Saez, who won the $20 million Saudi Cup aboard Maximum Security earlier in the day, Mr Freeze broke well and was able to sit a perfect trip stalking the early pace of Bodexpress and Rare Form in the run down the backstretch. Mr Freeze joined the leaders approaching the three-eighths pole, readily shook free while angled wide into the stretch, opened a commanding advantage through midstretch, and was never seriously menaced thereafter.

Phat Man, winner of the Grade 3 Fred Hooper here five weeks earlier, advanced strongly leaving the backstretch, came well wide to continue his bid into the stretch, and while no match for the winner, was easily second best. Hog Creek Hustle was a neck better than True Timber to be third.

The Gulfstream Park Mile was the fifth win for Mr Freeze in 12 career starts and his first against Grade 2 competition. The 5-year-old son of To Honor and Serve is trained by Romans for the partnership of Jim Bakke and Gerry Isbister. He ran a mile over a fast track in 1:34.80 and returned $7.40 as the favorite in a field of 11 older horses.

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“That’s the first time I’ve seen him turn the corner and just kick on and draw off from them,” Romans said. “He needed that for his confidence, probably, although I think the Pegasus boosted his confidence a lot, too. He had a little throat issue last summer, and I think it takes horses some time to get over that and have the confidence they are not going to choke up again.”

Romans said he believes a one-turn mile might be Mr Freeze’s best game at this time.

“I always like to think all of them want to go further, but milers are great to have. There is a lot of good stuff out there.”

Among that good stuff is the rich Godolphin Mile on the Dubai World Cup undercard on March 28 at Meydan.

“We’ve been invited to the Godolphin Mile, and that’s probably where we’ll end up,” Romans said.