NYRA/Adam Coglianese
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.
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 in Amenia. Frost Giant’s first progeny stakes winner West Hills Giant captured the $247,338 New York Breeders’ Futurity.
