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Frosted Ice chills competition in Bertram F. Bongard

by Najja Thompson

Making only his third career start, Rialto Racing Stable's Frosted Ice picked up his first stakes victory in impressive fashion, capturing the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard for New York-bred juveniles on Friday at Belmont Park.

Leaving from post 8 as the 9-5 post-time favorite with Joel Rosario aboard, Frosted Ice comfortably sat in fifth-position as Bankit led the field of six through fractions of 22.14 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.13 for the half.

Making a sweeping four-wide move at the three-eighths pole, Frosted Ice began to pass runners, and met Bankit at the quarter-pole. Frosted Ice secured the lead at the top of the stretch and drew off to win by 6 ¼ lengths at the wire.

He completed the seven-furlong distance in a final time of 1:23.12.

"He's a big horse with a nice stride," said Rosario. "By the quarter pole, I just let him stretch his legs out. I was just the passenger. He did the rest. At the beginning, everyone wanted to get their spots. I was fine with that because it looked like there was some speed and we'd let him break where he was comfortable and have a strong finish."

Returning $5.90 for a $2 win wager, the Ron Moquett trainee notched his second career win after breaking his maiden on August 17 at Saratoga Race Course. The Bellamy Road colt boosted his career earnings to $128,250.

"He's got a big stride and it seems like when all the sprinters are getting tired, he starts to kick on home," said Moquett. "I just told the rider to ride with confidence and know that he's a nice horse and it all worked. We're very proud and happy that we won a stake at Belmont and we're just tickled to death with this horse.

"We're going to get him back to Churchill and talk with Catherine [Adams-Hutt] and see what we do. I think he's going to want to stretch out and I think he deserves to be considered for some of the other races coming up and we'll keep our eyes on the New York-bred stakes as well."

Following Poppy's Destiny in second was Bustin Hoffman, Bankit, Bustin to Be Loved and Just Right. Risp and Dalliance were scratched from the race.