Adam Coglianese
Kelli Got Frosty put another feather in the cap of her top freshman sire Frost Giant by becoming his first multiple stakes winner as she splashed her way to a much-the-best 9 1/2-length victory in Sunday’s $80,000 East View Stakes for New York-bred juvenile fillies, a one-turn mile on a sloppy (sealed) racetrack.
Co-featured with the Damon Runyon on the closing day of main track competition at Aqueduct, the East View was approached with confidence by bettors, who made Kelli Go Frosty the 2-5 favorite following her half-length victory in the Fifth Avenue division of the NYSS on November 11 over a very tough customer in odds-on Monmouth-based invader P J’s Superego (Freud).
After an uneventful break from post three under Cornelio Velazquez, the blaze-faced dark bay took over the lead at the rail from Bit Bustin (Bustin Stones) following a first quarter mile in 23.73. After cruising up the backstretch and extending her lead to five lengths by the quarter pole (47.69, 1:12.79), Kelli Got Frosty opened up dramatically midstretch when asked for run, going on to win by 9 1/2 lengths geared down.
Second choice Agilion closed from fifth to finish second, five lengths ahead of Bit Bustin. Jerusalem Stone was fourth, followed home by Carameaway and Flattermewithroses. The final time for the one mile over the off-going was 1:39.19, a half second faster than the males in the Damon Runyon. [VIDEO]
Cornelio Velasquez, who had call aboard Kelli Got Frosty for the first time, said, “There wasn’t much speed in the race; I tried running in behind the speed, but it was a slow pace and she made the lead easy. I had the best horse; she galloped and won easy. She’s a nice filly and she loves the mud.”
Rudy Rodriguez, who trains the filly for breeder Andrew Cohen and co-owners Lee Sacks, Aubrey Flanagan and Gary Tolchin, added, “I’m very happy with the way she’s coming along. I’m thankful to the owners for giving me the opportunity to train her, and she’s a very nice filly. I think she’ll be fine going two turns. I think the longer she goes, she’ll get more comfortable. We really liked her from Day 1, and she has not disappointed us yet.”
Fourth in her debut in the Lady Finger Stakes, Kelli Got Frosty broke her maiden next out by an eye-popping 14 lengths in the mud at Belmont going 1 1/16 miles. A close-up third when favored to win the Joseph A. Gimma on Showcase Day in her third start, she went on to win the six-furlong Park Avenue in gritty style. With back-to-back stakes victories in her last two starts, Kelli Got Frosty has now earned $175,944.
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 (Keane Stud), winner of the Grade 1 Suburban Handicap in 2008, is the leading first crop sire in New York and, at the start of the weekend, ranked sixth nationally. His first progeny stakes winner West Hills Giant captured the $247,338 New York Breeders’ Futurity.
