Quality fillies meet in New York Stallion Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – New York Stallion Stakes are often met with a yawn, but Saturday’s $100,000 Park Avenue division for 3-year-old fillies is anything but a snoozer. Led by Frosty Margarita, Wonderment, and Behrnik’s Bank, the eight fillies entered in the 6 1/2-furlong race have combined to win eight stakes.

Frosty Margarita, a daughter of Frost Giant, has three wins and three seconds in stakes company and is coming off a two-month freshening for trainer Rudy Rodriguez. Frosty Margarita had run once a month for eight months from July to February before getting a breather.

“We just backed off a little bit with her,” Rodriguez said. “She’s coming into the race very good. We’re not looking for an excuse.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides from post 3.

Wonderment, a daughter of Cosmonaut trained by Ken McPeek, beat Frosty Margarita when the two debuted last summer at Belmont. She has won three of four starts, including the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks going a mile over Turfway Park’s synthetic surface three weeks ago.

“That last race, she had the pace set up really good for her and liked the Polytrack, which was great,” McPeek said. “I like the New York-bred company for her. She’ll rate off the pace if you need her to. It’s a matter of options and timing. She was doing good. We’d like to think we could cash a check or use this as a work for her next step.”

Cornelio Velasquez rides from post 6.

Behrnik’s Bank was breathtaking in winning her first two starts last November at Penn National. She was beaten a neck by Frosty Margarita in a division of the Stallion Stakes over the inner track Dec. 20.

Behrnik’s Bank was scratched from the Grade 2 Gazelle Stakes due in part to a wet track. That race would have been her first try at 1 1/8 miles.

She’s All Ready, a New York-bred stakes winner at Saratoga, makes her 3-year-old debut in this spot. She and Behrnik’s Bank have the speed to make for a rapid pace.

Libreta, Gregorian Gold, Madame Maybry, and Riot Worthy complete the field.