Frosted seeks third straight Grade 1 win in Woodward

With startling, eye-catching performances from California Chrome and Arrogate the last two weeks, connections now have an idea what kind of competition lies ahead for Frosted two months from now in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). On Saturday, the Godolphin-owned gray will turn in what might be his final prep for the Breeders' Cup in the $600,000 Woodward (G1) over one lap of Saratoga 1 1/8-mile main track.

"The thinking is that it's 60 days to the Breeders' Cup," McLaughlin said regarding Frosted's appearance in the Woodward. "That's not to say we won't run back in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). If he's tearing the barn down like he has been, we might do both. But Sheik Mohammed is involved with the decision-making, so I don't know. Right now, we're giving ourselves a good chance to get 60 days to the Breeders' Cup."

California Chrome and Arrogate both put up performances of the year taking the Pacific Classic (G1) and Travers (G1), respectively, but Frosted was the first to throw down the gauntlet with a jaw-dropping win in the Metropolitan H. (G1) in June, taking the historic mile fixture by 14 1/4 lengths, which is believed to be a record margin. His last-out win in the Whitney (G1) was impressive in a different way, as he led throughout to win by two lengths after blazing interior fractions of :46 2/5 and 1:09 3/5.

"His last race wasn't a 'wow' off-the-charts race on numbers and things, so we thought we could run back in four weeks," said McLaughlin, who also saddles Mubtaahij in the Woodward. Ahead of Frosted when second to California Chrome in the Dubai World Cup (G1), Mubtaahij finished third as the favorite in the Suburban H. (G2) in his lone interim appearance.

Bradester could be the horse to catch in the Woodward after three consecutive wire-to-wire victories, including the Stephen Foster H. (G1) and Monmouth Cup (G2), while multiple Grade 3 winner Samraat looks to improve off his neck loss to Shaman Ghost in the Brooklyn (G2). The latter was only fifth in the Suburban, but adds Lasix on Saturday.

Also in the lineup is Breaking Lucky, winner of last year's Prince of Wales at Fort Erie and the Seagram Cup (G3) over Tapeta at Woodbine last time.

Saturday's card also includes the $300,000 Saranac (G3), a nine-furlong grass test for three-year-olds where Camelot Kitten seeks his fourth graded win on the year. The $200,000 Glens Falls (G3) for fillies and mares at 1 3/8 miles on the turf features a rematch between the Waya (G3) top three of Guapaza, Suffused, and Achnaha, as well as Matchmaker (G3) heroine Itsonlyactingdad.

(Teresa Genaro photo)