Travers Stakes Review

Godolphin trainer Kiaran McLaughlin came away from Saratoga in the firm belief that Frosted, the colt who bravely matched it stride for stride with American Pharoah for more than half a mile in yesterday's Travers Stakes, can win the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland in October.

This was one of the most dramatic races run at The Spa in modern times, and Triple Crown winner American Pharoah joined racing greats Man O'War, Secretariat, Gallant Fox and Affirmed on a list of big names who have suffered defeat at the track they call the 'Graveyard of Champions.'

Victory went to 16-1 chance Keen Ice, winning for only the second time in his 11-start career, a son of Curlin, who had finished third to American Pharoah and Frosted in the Belmont Stakes in June. His triumph left a previously raucous crowd of 50,000 hugely deflated.

Keen Ice sailed down the outside late to claim American Pharoah a few strides from the line and beat him by three-quarters of a length, with two and a quarter lengths back to Frosted in third.

But while the Bob Baffert-trained three-year-old was beaten for only the second time in his career, his reputation suffered very little in the process. The same could be said of Frosted, ridden for the first time by Jose Lezcano, who was booked to ride the colt only an hour before the Travers.

Lezcano stepped in when regular jockey Joel Rosario was injured in a fall two races earlier. That incident undoubtedly had a major influence on the shape of the Travers as Frosted was keen out of the gate for his new partner, who then let him stride up to the girth of the favourite turning out of the straight.

What followed was a prolonged dog-fight along the back that softened up the favourite for the long home stretch run, and left both he and Frosted exposed and vulnerable. They ran the last two furlongs in 26.49 secs.

McLaughlin later explained that losing his regular jockey had been an unexpected setback.

"We turned to Lezcano because he has ridden five or six winners for us at the meet and he rides well.

"But Frosted had been a work in progress for Joel Rosario. It was a major blow losing Joel at the last minute because he had been with the horse and learning about him, and the way to ride him, every step of the way.

"We had been riding him back, teaching him to settle. I had only a few minutes to brief Jose beforehand. I wanted to keep everything I said to him simple and very positive. I didn't want to be saying 'don't do this, don't do that,' which of course, I would not have had to say to Joel," he said.

McLaughlin said Frosted could go straight for the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland on October 31.

"I will discuss plans with the team, but if we need another race, there is the Jockey Club Cup at Belmont on October 3," he added.

"We had all been saying that some horse should move up to try to put pressure on American Pharoah early in his races. I didn't think it would turn out to be us.

"But I am very proud of the way Frosted has fought on. He held on well for third. Most horses, in similar circumstances, would have finished way back," he said.