Elsa Lorieul Photo

Frostie Anne chills competition with front-running Biogio's Rose victory

by Brian Bohl

Michael Imperio and Rudy Rodriguez's Frostie Anne surged to the lead and never looked back, posting a gate-to-wire six-length win in the fourth running of the $100,000 Biogio's Rose for New York-bred fillies and mares 4-years-old and up on Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

After running fifth last out at 1 1/8 miles in the Bay Ridge, Frostie Anne looked comfortable cutting back to one mile, leading the six-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 23.35 seconds, the half in 46.51 and three-quarters in 1:11.21 on the main track labeled fast.

Jockey Hector Rafael Diaz, Jr., bidding for his second career stakes win overall and first NYRA stakes victory, kept Frostie Anne in command coming out of the turn, where the 9-1 choice extended her lead over No Hayne No Gayne and cruised in the stretch, hitting the wire in 1:37.32 to notch her first win since the Saratoga Dew on August 17.

Frostie Anne, who is also trained by Rodriguez, is a Gold member of the NYRA Starter Loyalty program. The 6-year-old Frost Giant mare, bred in New York by Mr. and Mrs. Grant L. Whitmer, returned $21.40 on a $2 win bet and improved her career earnings to more than a half-million dollars [$528,063].

"She's always trained very good. We were just disappointed with her last couple of races," Rodriguez said. "I have to give all the credit to Hector. He's been breezing her in the mornings and he's really gotten to know her. I just told him not to fight her, to let her do what she's comfortable doing being up front, and everything worked out perfect for us today. We just have to keep going from here."

Diaz, Jr. entered the race with one victory in his first 41 starts of 2019 but registered his second career stakes win and first since capturing the Sorority in September at Monmouth Park.

"I had a perfect trip. She just went easy upfront," Diaz said. "She likes to be on the lead and Rudy had the blinkers on her today, which helped her stay focused. When I asked her for more, she did it easy."

Midnight Disguise, the 2-1 favorite for trainer Linda Rice, rallied from fifth in the stretch for runner-up status, finishing one length ahead of Silver member Bonita Bianca.

No Hayne No Gayne, Playinwiththeboys and Frosty Margarita completed the order of finish. Unbridledadventure was scratched, as was Split Time at the gate.

Live racing will return Friday at Aqueduct with an eight-race card. First post time is 12:50 p.m.