Frosted Grace stalks then edges clear for the win. (Coady Photography/Renee Torbit)
By Robert Yates
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Mike Maker is now a two-time Oaklawn Mile winner. Frosted Grace is now a millionaire.
Flying P Stable’s Frosted Grace collared front-running Silver Prospector on the outside in the upper stretch en route to a 1 ½-length victory in the $500,000 Grade 3 race for older horses.
The Oaklawn Mile marked the first start for Frosted Grace since owner Jason Provenzano (Flying P Stable) moved the 8-year-old son of Mark Valeski from trainer Robertino Diodoro to Maker, who won the inaugural Oaklawn Mile in 2019 with Exulting. Frosted Grace hadn’t run since a victory over $62,500 claimers Jan. 13 at Oaklawn.
Ridden again by Ramon Vazquez, Frosted Grace ($14.40) stalked Silver Prospector and Last Samurai through a :46.84 half-mile. Frosted Grace stuck a head in front with a sixteenth of a mile remaining and edged clear under steady urging.
Silver Prospector, a millionaire multiple graded stakes winner, finished second, 3 ¾ lengths ahead of Nautical Star. Denington, who finished fourth, was followed, in order, by 8-5 favorite Midnight Rising and Last Samurai, another millionaire multiple graded stakes winner. Logical Myth and Necker Island were scratched.
Carrying 117 pounds –seven less than Silver Prospector – Frosted Grace ran the mile over a fast track in 1:36.61.
Frosted Grace has an 11-14-7 record from 46 lifetime starts and earnings of $1,113,562. It was the second career graded stakes victory for Frosted Grace, who captured the $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile (G3) last May at Lone Star Park.
Oaklawn Mile Quotes
Ramon Vazquez (Winning Jockey/Frosted Grace): “I had a lot of confidence. The horse was doing incredible. That horse was working so good in the morning. I got a good trip. The horse broke sharp from the gate. It was my job to put the horse in good position. I asked him the last quarter and he responded well.”
Keith Asmussen (Second-Place Jockey/Silver Prospector): “The horse broke ultra-sharp. Going under the wire the first time, look over and it seemed to be five-path, with no pace, or you’re two-path, maybe a little faster than you would like to. But the horse, he’s on intentional. I absolutely loved where I was. Ultra-confident. I cut the corner and he really ran home. I was surprised I got passed.”
