A determined Kelli Got Frosty up in final strides of Fifth Avenue

[1]

NYRA/Adam Coglianese

by Sarah Mace

[UPDATE 5/10/2013: Kelli Got Frosty and Nonnie Connie (first and third) were disqualified from the race because neither horse was eligible, according to the New York State Gaming Commission. Their sire Frost Giant was nominated to the stallion stakes series, but neither horse was nominated individually by her connections.

The connections of Kelli Got Frosty forfeit a $75,000 first-place purse while the connections of Nonnie Connie forfeit the $12,500 third-place prize.

As of 5/10/2013, the connections of Kelli Got Frosty have appealed the disqualification and until the matter is concluded both Kelli Got Frosty and runner-up P J’s Superego, a 2010 New Jersey-bred by Freud, will be declared the winner.]

Kelli Got Frosty secured her first stakes victory, and became the second progeny stakes winner for leading New York Freshman sire Frost Giant when she put on a determined display in the stretch to win the $125,000 Fifth Avenue Stakes – the filly division of a pair of six-furlong New York Stallion Series races for juveniles co-featured at Aqueduct Racetrack on Sunday.

Favored last month to win the Joseph A. Gimma on Showcase Day when she finished a close third, Kelli Got Frosty had to take a back seat at the windows on Sunday (4-1) to odds-on Monmouth-based invader P J’s Superego, a New Jersey-bred filly by Freud, whose 78 Beyer Speed Figure in her Parx maiden-breaker last-out won over the confidence of bettors.

After the break, P J’s Superego opened up a length on her six rivals, as Kelli Got Frosty accompanied the first flight, along with Nonnie Connie, Zekes Surprise and Gee Linz. Passing horses in the turn in the three path Kelli Got Frosty took over a clear second at the top of the stretch.

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NYRA/Adam Coglianese

Advancing with determination for the length of the stretch, Kelli Got Frosty gradually wore down P J’s Superego and assumed command in the final strides on her way to a 1/2-length victory. Following Kelli Got Frosty and P J’s Super Ego across the line were: Nonnie Connie, Matchmadeinheaven, Jerusalem Stone, Zekes Surprise and Gee Linz.

After a first half mile run in 45.99, the final time for the six panels was 1:09.91, more than a full second faster than the boys’ division earlier on the card.

Winning rider Joel Rosario said, “I just followed the horse on the lead. She was going easy on the lead, and I tried to take my time before I made my move. She’s a pretty horse and she does everything right, and I have a lot of confidence in her. It looked like a little distance should be good, too.”

Rudy Rodriguez, trainer of Kelli Got Frosty, added, “She’s very nice. I was very glad the owner gave her to me to train. She’s tall, but I don’t think she’s finished growing yet. Hopefully she’ll keep improving a little bit.”

Owned by her breeder Andrew I. Cohen in partnership with Lee Sacks, Aubrey Flanagan and Gary Tolchin, Kelli Got Frosty ran up her career record to 2-0-1 from four starts with the Fifth Avenue victory. Fourth in her debut in the Lady Finger Stakes, she broke her maiden next out by 14 lengths in the mud at Belmont going 1 1/16 miles before finishing third in the Gimma. She has now earned $127,944.

Foaled at Empire Stud in Hudson, Kelli Got Frosty is the second foal and second winner out of Nick’s Honor, an unraced daughter of Jump Start. Nick’s Honor currently has a weanling filly by Posse and was bred this year to D’ Funnybone.

Frost Giant is the leading Freshman Sire in New York and, at the start of the weekend, ranked number five nationally. Winner of the Grade 1 Suburban Handicap in 2008 (under Rudy Rodriguez!), the son of Giant’s Causeway will stand the 2013 breeding season at Keane Stud [3]in Amenia. Frost Giant’s first progeny stakes winner West Hills Giant captured the $247,338 New York Breeders’ Futurity[4].

Endnotes:

[Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/11_11_12-kelli-got-frosty-Park-Ave.jpg
[Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/11_11_12-kelli-got-frosty2Park-Ave.jpg
Keane Stud : http://www.keanestud.com/
captured the $247,338 New York Breeders’ Futurity: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2012/09/29/west-hills-giant-futurity/

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2012/11/11/kelli-got-frosty-fifth-avenue/

Meeker Avenue gets head bob over Laila’s Jazz in Great White Way thriller

[1]

NYRA/Adam Coglianese

by Sarah Mace

Heavily favored Meeker Avenue (Read the Footnotes) won a head bob over second choice Laila’s Jazz (Smooth Jazz) to take an exciting renewal of the Great White Way, the first of a pair of six-furlong, $125,000 New York Stallion Series races for 2-year-olds co-featured at Aqueduct Racetrack on Sunday.

As Stoneless (Bustin Stones) capitalized on his early speed from the inside post to open up four lengths on his rivals, carving out rapid early fractions of 21.91 and 45.33, Meeker Avenue at the rail under Ramon Dominguez (3-5) and Laila’s Jazz in the three path under Rajiv Maragh (5-2) stalked four lengths behind in second and third.

Through the turn and in upper stretch, Meeker Avenue and Laila’s Jazz closed in on the leader, with Laila’s Jazz taking over the top spot in the three path around the furlong marker, and Meeker Avenue slipping through an opening at the rail.

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NYRA/Adam Coglianese

In a tooth and claw dash to the wire, Laila’s Jazz maintained a slight advantage until the final strides, but a determined Meeker Avenue dug in, fought back and won the bob. Petrocelli (Disco Rico) closed into third two lengths back, while Here Comes Tommy, Stoneless and Madam I’m Adam completed the order of finish. The final time for six furlongs on the fast main track was 1:10.96.

Winning rider Ramon Dominguez said, “I was pleased because that definitely wasn’t the plan. I was looking to be on the lead or close behind. When he didn’t get away that well I was concerned because he was on the inside, a little shy, with a horse outside. Turning for home, he had to squeeze through a pretty narrow hole. He kept on trying. He’s already a pretty decent horse, but he’s going to prove to be even better.”

Trainer Dominick Schettino added, “He’s still maturing and learning. He’ll get better with more racing. He was in tight the whole race. It’s a learning process, but he ran a hell of a race.”

Owned jointly by Mary Ellen Bonomo’s MeB Racing Stables LLC and Anthony Bonomo’s Brooklyn Boyz Stables, Meeker Avenue is now unbeaten in two career starts, having taken his debut, a six furlong off-the-turf event, on the front end by 2 3/4 lengths at Belmont Park on September 19 under Jose Espinoza. He has now earned $112,440 from two winning starts.

Bred by Fred W. Hertrich III and foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds[3], Meeker Avenue was the top-selling New York-sired New York-bred, and eighth best seller overall at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Preferred Yearling Sale, where he was purchased by Brooklyn Boyz for $135,000.

The bay gelding is the most recent of nine foals out of the unraced Silver Deputy mare Age of Silver, who has produced eight winners of eight foals to start, including stakes winner and multiple graded performer Age of Humor by Distorted Humor ($135,605) and multiple stakes placed Coach Ryan by Broad Brush ($113,099). Age of Silver was bred this past spring to Unbridled’s Song.

The sire of Meeker Avenue, Read the Footnotes, is a former top-ten New York sire for Sequel Stallions[4], where he stood from 2006 to 2011 before relocating to Oklahoma for the 2012 breeding season.

Endnotes:

[Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/11_11_12-meeker-avenue-Great-Whhite-Way.jpg
[Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/meeker-avenue41.jpg
McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds: http://www.mcmahonthoroughbreds.com/
Sequel Stallions: http://www.sequelnewyork.com/stallions/

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2012/11/11/meeker-ave-great-white-way/