Joe Labozzetta Photo

Kid Is Frosty wins turf debut in NYSSS Cupecoy's Joy

by Ryan Martin

Kelly Mitchell's Kid Is Frosty saw her consistent efforts on dirt transfer to a new surface, staying off the pace before taking command in the stretch and outkicking Niko's Dream by a neck to win her turf debut in Sunday's $150,000 New York Stallion Series Cupecoy's Joy at Belmont Park.

Breaking from post 5 in the seven-furlong sprint for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies over the Widener turf course, jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. kept the Frost Giant filly just to the inside of pacesetter and 48-1 longshot Parton, who recorded an opening quarter-mile in 23.15 seconds. Around the far turn, Ortiz moved Kid Is Frosty to the outside of Parton, who completed the half-mile in 46.69, and took command under little urging.

At the top of the stretch, Ortiz, Jr. peeked back and saw heavily favored Newly Minted closing in and asked more of his charge, who responded by surging to the wire in a final time of 1:21.49 on the turf labeled firm.

Trained by Brad Cox, Kid Is Frosty has finished in the money in all eight of her career starts, including a distant runner-up effort behind Newly Minted over a sloppy main track in Aqueduct's NYSSS Park Avenue on April 20, where she was piloted by Ortiz, Jr. for the first time.

Sunday's triumph was her first trip to the winner's circle since a fourth out maiden victory at Aqueduct on February 23.

"I got a good feeling about her on the grass," Ortiz, Jr. said. "I rode her one time before and she was going so comfortable and showed she can do it on dirt, so I thought she'd be all right on the turf. He [Cox] has been working her here and saying she's been doing fine on the grass, so I rode her with confidence. She's good. She always tries. On dirt, she couldn't really show what she has. She improved, but on the turf, she improved a lot."

The win was Ortiz, Jr.'s sixth stakes victory during the Belmont spring/summer meet which put him at even terms with brother Jose Ortiz, who also has six stakes wins. Cox notched his fourth stakes victory of the meet in the Cupecoy's Joy.

Niko's Dream, trained by Barclay Tagg, finished 1 ¾ lengths clear of Newly Minted for second in her first stakes start.

Newly Minted, the 3-5 mutuel favorite who took a 3-for-3 record on dirt into her first turf start, recorded a game effort, finishing 4 ¼-lengths in front of Plink Freud for third.

Rounding out the order of finish was Sterling Beauty, Parton and Sweet Meadow Mist. Funny Money Honey was scratched.

Kid Is Frosty earned $82,500 from Sunday's win, which brought her career earnings up to $198,334. She returned $14.80 for a $2 win bet.

Bred in New York by Bad Boy Racing, Kid Is Frosty is out of the Lemon Drop Kid broodmare Murmure, who is a half-sister to Medolina - an open company stakes winner on grass.