Mr Freeze tallies biggest win of career in Gulfstream Park Mile
Mr Freeze, who was runner-up in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) in his most recent start, earned the biggest win of his career on Saturday with an open-length victory in the $300,000 Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile.
With Manny Franco aboard, Mr Freeze prompted the pace set by Bodexpress while traveling three-wide through fractions of :23.27 and :45.32 for the opening half mile. Mr Freeze inherited the lead at the quarter pole reached in 1:09.95 when Bodexpress started to falter and then kept to task down the stretch to hold off the late rally of Phat Man by three lengths on the wire. Hog Creek Hustle was further back and won a photo for third.
Sent off the 5-2 favorite, Mr Freeze completed one mile on a fast track in 1:34.80 and paid $7.40.
“This might be a breakthrough race for him,” Romans said. “I always thought there was more there.
“That was big," Romans continued. "It's the first time I've seen him turn the corner and just kick on and draw off from them,” Romans said. “I think he needed that for his confidence probably. I think the Pegasus boosted his confidence a lot.”
Romans said Mr Freeze has an invite to next month's Godolphin Mile (G1) in Dubai and that's likely where he's headed next.
"If he comes out of this well, that's where we'll head," Romans said. "Milers are great to have."