Runner up last time out behind Mucho Gusto in the Pegasus World Cup, Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister’s Mr Freeze proved too much for his rivals in Saturday’s Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile. The 5-year-old son of To Honor and Serve pressed the pace and took over in the far turn, pulling away to win by about three lengths. Ridden by Manny Franco for trainer Dale Romans, Mr Freeze ran a mile over Gulfstream’s fast main track in 1:34.80.
“This might be a breakthrough race for him,” Romans said. “I always thought there was more there.”
Racing outside both Bodexpress and his stablemate Rare Form, Mr Freeze was three-wide for the trip up the backstretch. Bodexpress emerged with a half-length advantage through fractions of :23.27 and :45.32, but Franco let Mr Freeze draw even with the leaders around the far turn.
Closers Phat Man and Hog Creek Hustle were making up ground, but Mr Freeze pulled away convincingly through the stretch to win by about three lengths. Phat Man got up for second, while Hog Creek Hustle held third over True Timber.
Bred in Kentucky by Siena Farms, Mr Freeze is out of the Tabasco Cat mare Heavenly Cat. A $75,000 yearling at the Keeneland September sale, the horse won his first graded stakes in the 2018 West Virginia Derby. He had a strong season in late 2019, winning the G3 Ack Ack before hitting the board in both the G2 Fayette and G1 Clark. Overall, Mr Freeze has a record of 5-4-1 from 12 starts for earnings of over $1.3 million.
“This horse is a really talented horse. He had a little hiccup last year and he got over it,” Romans said. “He’s been invited to the Godolphin Mile, so if he comes out of this well, that’s where we’ll head. Milers are great to have.”
The Godolphin Mile (G1) will be run on the undercard of the Dubai World Cup March 28.
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