NYRA/Adam Coglianese
By Sarah Mace
Miss Freeze, a daughter of Frost Giant (Keane Stud), got her career off to a flying start on Belmont Park’s closing day when she scored a decisive six-plus length stakes victory on debut in the 6-furlong, $125,000 Lynbrook for New York-bred juvenile fillies.
The only first-time starter in the six-horse field, Miss Freeze had posted a steady series of published works at since May, including a gate move on June 22. At post time, with meet-leading rider Jose Ortiz in the irons, she was the public’s fifth choice at odds of nearly 9-1.
Gunned out of post three, and undeterred by brief brush with odds-on favorite Paz the Bourbon, Miss Freeze settled in third in the two path, as Zenna (7-1) led the way, chased by 3-2 second choice Wilburnmoney.
Holding her course along the backstretch and passed by runners on either side, Miss Freeze briefly found herself in last at the approach to the far turn, but picked things up again, gained a couple of positions, and midway around the bend grabbed a spot at the rail.
Once pacesetter Zenna drifted out in the turn, leaving a large and inviting opening at the rail, Miss Freeze took full advantage. The filly charged toward the lead and took over just past the three-sixteenths marker. Scampering to the wire, she opened up readily on new leader Wilburnmoney, and secured the victory by 6 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:11.98.
Wilburnmoney finished a half length ahead of Paz the Bourbon, who closed into third. Completing the order of finish were Zenna, Christening and Holy Gold. [VIDEO]
Ortiz said, “She’s a very straightforward filly. First time out, it’s tough to win a stakes race, but she was ready. I like her a lot. She did everything right. She broke well. She took dirt like a professional. When it was clear by the quarter pole, I angled in as the rail was open for me and she really gave me a nice run.”
NYRA/Chelsea Durand
The Lynbrook was not only a cause for great celebration for her owners, Joseph Bulger, Michael Imperio and DJC Racing Stables, but for her conditioner David Cannizzo, as well, who recorded his first stakes victory as a trainer.
“It’s a great feeling to get it done,” said Cannizzo. “It was beautiful, to say the least. We ran well in a bunch of New York-bred stakes before, but had never been able to break the ice.”
Cannizzo added, “Miss Freeze is a very special filly and I’m so grateful to the owners for letting me work with her. I also need to thank [bloodstock agent] Nick Sallusto, who has been a big factor in getting some really nice horses into my barn.”
As to Miss Freeze, Cannizzo said, “Since Day One, she’s been straightforward and has handled everything perfect. She’s handled everything we’ve thrown at her; we worked her against older horses and younger horses. She’s just been a dream.”
He also explained his thinking behind debuting the filly in a stakes race. “I figured this race would be a shorter field. The other race we [considered] was a 12-horse field. I didn’t want to have a troubled trip.”
Cannizzo will be pointing Miss Freeze to the $200,000 Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga on August 26. “She ran hard, for a first start and I want to give her a chance to get into a good routine [at the Spa].”
Bred by Anthony Bruno and foaled at Rick Burke’s Irish Hill Century Farm in Stillwater, Miss Frost is the most recent reported foal out of Reata’s Vixen, a Kentucky-bred multiple winner and six-figure earner who is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Royal Currier, who banked nearly $870,000. The filly is her dam’s second winner of two foals to start.
A $57,000 yearling at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred yearling sale last year, she was purchased by Sallusto and Albana for $150,000 at the OBS Spring Sale.
