Miss Freeze debuts a convincing winner in Lynbrook
First-time starter Miss Freeze stalked the pace and pulled away in the stretch for a convincing 6 1/4-length victory in Sunday's $125,000 Lynbrook for New York-foaled 2-year-old fillies on the main track in Belmont Park's closing-day feature.
Trained by David Cannizzo, Miss Freeze broke her maiden by completing six furlongs in 1:11.98. The DJC Racing Stables' filly went to the inside after the five-sixteenths pole and passed Zenna and Wilburnmoney before widening her two-length lead at the top of the stretch.
The Frost Giant filly went off at 9-1 and paid $19.80 on a $2 win wager.
"Since Day 1, she's been straightforward and has handled everything perfect," Cannizzo said. "She's handled everything we've thrown at her; we worked her against older horses and younger horses. She's just been a dream."
Jockey Jose Ortiz registered his 78th win of the Belmont spring-summer meet, capturing his third consecutive individual title.
"She's a very straightforward filly," Ortiz said. "First time out, it's tough to win a stakes race, but she was ready. I like her a lot. She did everything right. She broke well. She took dirt like a professional. When it was clear by the quarter pole, I angled in as the rail was open for me and she really gave me a nice run."
Cannizzo said Miss Freeze, who completed a four-furlong workout at Belmont on July 10 before making her debut, was entered in the Lynbrook to capitalize on the smaller number of entrants.
"I figured this race would be a shorter field," Cannizzo said. "The other race we [considered] was a 12-horse field. I didn't want to have a troubled trip. We're looking at a stakes [in Saratoga] in the middle of the meet for New York-bred fillies."
Zenna, trained by Carlos Martin, dueled Wilburnmoney through an opening quarter mile in 22.84 seconds with the half going in 46.72. Wilburnmoney, trained by Gary Gullo, stumbled leaving the gate, but jockey Luis Saez steadied her to stalk the pace and finish second in her stakes debut.
Paz the Bourbon, the even-money favorite for trainer Mark Hennig, went four-wide on the turn to come in third.
Zenna, Christening and Holy Gold completed the order of finish.
Live racing will move to Saratoga Race Course starting July 22 as the meet will feature 69 stakes worth a record $18.725 million, anchored by the Grade 1, $1.25 million Whitney on August 6 and the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 27.
Source: NYRA Communications (Brian Bohl)