Travers 2018 possible for Mr Freeze after West Virginia Derby

Dale Romans isn’t yet sure whether he’ll enter impressive West Virginia Derby winner Mr Freeze in the 2018 Travers Stakes, but the trainer said Monday “we’ll act like we’re running there and decide later.”

Under jockey Robby Albarado, Mr Freeze led at every call Saturday at Mountaineer and went on to win by eight lengths, finishing 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.95.

“I thought he was going to run a big race, but I don’t think you ever predict that kind of effort,” Romans said.

Now a big jump in class is under consideration, along with a three-week turnaround to the Grade 1, $1.2 million Mid-Summer Derby on Aug. 25 at Saratoga.

Those targeting the Travers include recent Haskell Invitational winner Good Magic, Belmont Stakes runner-up Gronkowski and the super filly Wonder Gadot, who won the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown — among a number of other standout horses.

Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's Mr Freeze remains lightly raced, with the West Virginia Derby just his fourth start. He won his April 20 debut at Keeneland, struck next out in an allowance at Churchill Downs and finished second to High North in the Iowa Derby. The son of To Honor and Serve more than turned the tables on High North Saturday.

Albarado told Romans that, “Besides being fast, it was easy.”

High North and another previous stakes winner, Draft Pick, were in tow early as Mr Freeze clicked through fractions of 24.02, 47.88 and 1:11.13 to open the West Virginia Derby.

“It wasn’t like he put away cheap speed,” Romans said.

A $75,000 auction purchase, Mr Freeze earned a career-high 102 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort, ranking among the best numbers for a 3-year-old at more than a mile. His previous best figure was an 89.

“We’ll see how he comes out of it,” Romans said. “We’re going to act like we’re running there (in the Travers), and we’ll figure it out the week of the race.”