Yarradale Stud shuttler Frost Giant sired a stakes winning double in New York on Saturday with his first-crop three year-olds West Hills Giant and Frosty Bay.
Frost Giant (USA) is a G1 winning son of champion sire Giant’s Causeway and he will shuttle to Yarradale for the first time this year. He was a record-breaking freshman sire last year with 12 individual winners at an 80% strike-rate.
West Hills Giant (3c Frost Giant – Outtawesthills by Take Me Out) had won the LR New York Breeders Futurity in September last year and he added another Listed victory in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes (1400m) at Belmont on Saturday.
The John Terranova trained colt missed the start but was poised to produce a strong finish when Edgar Prado asked for an effort approaching the home turn. “He acted up in the gate, but then I let him settle so he could catch his rhythm and he started getting closer and closer,” Prado said. “I took him outside when they turned for home and he really levelled off with a nice turn of foot.”
The big chestnut cleared out to score by more than two lengths clocking 1.21.60s for 1400 metres on turf. “He’s versatile and he can absolutely do it on both turf and dirt,” Terranova said. “There are a lot of opportunities for New York breds on both surfaces and we will try to take advantage of that.”
West Hills Giant is raced by the Long Island and Sunrise Stables in partnership with Gina Bentivegna. He has won 3 of 9 starts and earned over $345,000.
Frost Giant claimed the fillies division of the New York Stallion Series with Frosty Bay in the LR Cupecoy’s Joy Stakes (1400m). Making her stakes debut, she has also won 3 races in 9 starts for prizemoney of $152,580.
Frosty Bay (3f Frost Giant – Baymont by Wild Again) grabbed the lead in the straight to score by a length. “She saddled beautifully and was calm and laid back,” jockey Javier Castellano said. “She broke sharp and I just covered her up. I saved ground and when I asked – she responded. It worked out perfectly.”
Trainer Dominick Schettino prepares the winner for owner-breeders Robert and Peter Rosenthal. “She’s really found a home on the grass,” Schettino said. “She was training very well leading up to this race and really dug in at the end. We will see how she comes out of this race before deciding what’s next.”
The Belmont Park double came soon after Frost Giant’s precocious filly Speedy Lee D scored a front-running victory on Thursday. It was her second win at Finger Lakes in June.
Frost Giant was a G3 winner of the Killavullan Stakes & Kilternan Stakes in Ireland before transferring to New York where he captured the G1 Suburban Hcp at Belmont Park.
Yarradale Stud owner Ron Sayers has placed a $9,900 (inc gst) service fee on Frost Giant for his first southern season in 2013.
– Karl Patterson