Force Freeze will look for his first graded stakes win in the GP Sprint Championship
As good as Force Freeze has run at the backend of the 2011 season, a graded stakes win has still eluded and haunted him. The Kentucky bred son of Forest Camp came so close in his last two starts, but had to be content with the runner up position on both occasions, but had he notched a win in either of those two Grade 1 races, he would have gone a notch up in fans and racegoers books entering the new campaign.
Out of It’s Freezing mare Antifreeze, Force Freeze is exiting a second place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs last fall, going at six furlongs.
The newly turned seven-year-old gelding under J Velazquez just couldn’t find a way past, Amazombie, who was eventually named the sprinter of the year at the Eclipse Awards in January this year.
However, he did exceptionally well to keep the third place finisher in the sprint, Jackson Bend, at bay who was homing in on him in the stretch.
Force Freeze is about to make his season debut in a Grade 2 and his connections would be hoping he finally changes that tag. The race is called the Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship with a purse of $150,000 on 18 February, 2012, at about seven furlongs on dirt against seven other 4-year-old and above males.
The Ian Wilkes trained, Capt. Candyman Can will be his main competitor, and the grade 1 winning 6-year-old horse will also be making his seasonal debut. The Candy Ride horse is exiting a fourth place finish in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes on 31 December, 2011, at Gulfstream Park at about 6 furlongs.
Capt. Candyman Can kicked off his 2011 season with two consecutive wins at Tampa Bay Downs in the Super Stakes, and then in the Sir Shackleton Handicap at about six and a half furlongs at Gulfstream Park, but then fell away finishing 4th twice and 3rd once.
Another top challenger would be the fast improving, Troilus. The 4-year-old colt is exiting a victory in an allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream Park. The win completed his third straight win in South Florida.
Todd Pletcher trainer, Simba’s Story, is also coming off a win in an allowance/optional claimer on 22 January, 2012.
Force Freeze will have his work cut out in pursuit of his first graded stakes win against a reasonable solid looking lineup.
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