Arctic Beast extends in the stretch on the way to his victory in the Aspirant Stakes Monday at Finger Lakes. SV Photography.
Arctic Beast, the fifth most expensive yearling at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred sale, ran his record to 2-for-2 in Monday’s $104,338 Aspirant Stakes for state-bred colts and geldings at Finger Lakes.
Ricardo Santana Jr. rode the 1-5 favorite to a 7 1/4-length victory over 22-1 longshot Diamond Child, with 5-2 second choice Party in the Army third and 25-1 longshot Hey Pal fourth in the field of nine. A son of Yaupon owned by Paradise Farms Corp., JP Racing Stable, David Staudacher, Zilla Racing Stables and Jennifer Rice, Arctic Beast came into the Aspirant off a narrow maiden victory August 15 at Saratoga Race Course.
Trainer Mike Maker shipped Arctic Beast to his barn at Churchill Downs following that maiden win and breezed the colt three times in preparation for the 5 ½-furlong Aspirant, one of four stakes on the card Monday at Finger Lakes.
Arctic Beast broke well from the extreme outside but conceded the early lead to Diamond Child just to his inside. Hey Pal chased those two leaders with the trio of Party in the Army, Chioke and The Last Delivery stacked up just behind.
Diamond Child led through the opening quarter-mile in :22.31, just a head in front of an in hand Arctic Beast. The order up front didn’t change into the far turn and to the half in :45.51.
Santana kept Arctic Beast in the clear, turned for home about four wide and took command at the eighth pole. They drew off from there, extending to the finish to win in 1:04.13 over the sloppy and sealed track.
Arctic Beast picked up $62,603 for the Aspirant victory to boost his bankroll to $112,103.
Bred by Rockridge Stgud LLC, Saratoga Glen Farm and Beal’s Racing Stable LLC, Arctic Beast is the second foal out of multiple New York-bred stakes winner and $584,443-earner Frostie Anne.
Originally purchased as a weanling by Good Luck Farm for $120,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale, Arctic Beast returned to that same sales ring the following August and brought $275,000 from Maker at the Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.
Frostie Anne, a finalist in 2018 and 2019 for champion New York-bred older dirt female honors, is also the dam of the unraced Malibu Moon colt Malibu Frost who sold for $65,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale.
