Frosted, Upstart Headline Pennsylvania Derby Field

Frosted, Upstart Headline Pennsylvania Derby Field

Photo by NYRA/Coglianese Photos

American Pharoah and Frosted lead the way in the 2015 Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga. Photo by NYRA/Coglianese Photos
American Pharoah and Frosted lead the way in the 2015 Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga. Photo by NYRA/Coglianese Photos

Frosted, who famously headed American Pharoah on the far turn of the Travers Stakes (gr. I) before tiring to finish third, will seek to get back in the winner’s circle on September 19th when he starts in the $1,000,000 Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) at Parx Racing.

Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Frosted has stamped himself as among the best colts of his generation after winning the Wood Memorial (gr. I) and hitting the board in several other major races, including the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and Kentucky Derby (gr. I). Although he hasn’t been in the winner’s circle since April, his overall consistency and talent is likely to make him one of the favorites in the Pennsylvania Derby.

Nine other colts have been entered in the nine-furlong race, including Upstart, winner of the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) and fourth in the Travers; Madefromlucky, winner of the West Virginia Derby (gr. II); Island Town, winner of the Smarty Jones Stakes (gr. III) and Matt Winn Stakes (gr. III); and Gimme Da Lute, a California shipper that has won four straight races for Bob Baffert, including the Los Alamitos Derby (gr. II).

Gimme Da Lute and jockey Martin Garcia win the $100,000 El Cajon Stakes, Saturday, August 29, 2015 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar CA. © BENOIT PHOTO
Gimme Da Lute and jockey Martin Garcia win the 2015 El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar © BENOIT PHOTO

Last year, Baffert sent out Bayern to upset Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome in the Pennsylvania Derby, and Gimme Da Lute could be poised to pull off a similar upset if the track comes up speed-favoring as it did in 2014. Last time out, Gimme Da Lute scored a tenacious win in the El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar (click here for a recap), defeating stablemate Fame and Power by a half-length.

Also in the Pennsylvania Derby field is the tough-as-nails Mr. Z, who won the Ohio Derby in June. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Mr. Z will be making the 10th start of the year, and his 18th overall.

The complete entries for the Pennsylvania Derby are as follows:

Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Morning Line Odds
1 War Story, Deshawn Parker, J. Radosevich, 20-1
2 Island Town, Brian Hernandez Jr., Ian Wilkes, 10-1
3 Frosted, Joel Rosario, Kiaran McLaughlin, 5-1
4 Iron Fist, Mike Smith, Jerry Hollendorfer, 8-1
5 Madefromlucky, John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 4-1
6 Gimme Da Lute, Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert, 5-1
7 Tommy Macho, Javier Castellano, Todd Pletcher, 10-1
8 Battle Midway, Aaron Gryder, Nick Zito, 20-1
9 Upstart, Irad Ortiz Jr., Richard Violette Jr., 9-2
10 Mr. Z, Luis Saez, D. Wayne Lukas, 10-1

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Follow J. Keeler Johnson ("Keelerman"):

J. Keeler Johnson is a writer, blogger, videographer, and all-around horse racing enthusiast who was drawn to the sport by Curlin's quest to become North America's richest racehorse. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite. He lives in Wisconsin and also writes for the Bloodhorse.com blog Unlocking Winners.

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