G2 Remsen Runner-up Arctic Arrogance Points to Jerome or Withers

December 4, 2022

Arctic Arrogance wins the Sleepy Hollow (NYRA/Coglianese)

NYRA Press Office

OZONE PARK, N.Y.— Chester and Mary Broman’s New York homebred Arctic Arrogance, who finished a game second to Dubyuhnell in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen at Aqueduct Racetrack, will target either the Jerome in January or the Grade 3 Withers in February at the Big A for his next start.

“He came back good and we’ll get him back to the track in a few days. I was very happy with the race,” said trainer Linda Rice. “I was considering waiting for the Jerome, but I said, ‘You know what, we better go now.’ We’ll either run in the Jerome or the Withers [next]; I’ve got to see how he comes out of the race.”

The one-mile Jerome offers 10-4-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, while the nine-furlong Withers provides 20-8-6-4-2 points.

Arctic Arrogance, who earned four qualifying points towards a start in the Kentucky Derby for his performance, made his open-company debut off a prominent victory in the state-bred Sleepy Hollow on October 30 at Belmont at the Big A. There, he set the tempo and was challenged by Starquist at the half-mile call, but pulled away easily from his rivals at the top of the stretch to win by 4 1/2 lengths.

He showed similar frontrunning tactics in the Remsen and was pressured by Dubyuhnell throughout as the pair put seven lengths between them and the rest of the field at the top of the stretch. The two put on a show down the lane and battled gamely to the wire, but Dubyuhnell gained the advantage nearing the finish and bested Arctic Arrogance by a half-length.

Rice said she is proud the gray son of Frosted’s performance throughout the year.

“Four starts is enough for a 2-year-old and it’s been a terrific campaign for him,” said Rice. “To have him run second at a mile and an eighth is fantastic.”

The Remsen was one of two graded placings on Saturday’s card for Rice, who also sent out Cloud Nine Stable’s New York-bred Betsy Blue to a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Go for Wand. The daughter of Tonalist entered from a close fourth-place effort in the Iroquois against fellow state-breds on October 30 at Belmont at the Big A and earned her first graded placing in her first try at that level.

The consistent Betsy Blue has hit the board in 14-of-16 starts for her connections since being haltered for $50,000 out of a winning effort last March at Aqueduct. She made her stakes debut a winning one in the seven-furlong state-bred Bouwerie last May at Belmont Park, dominating her five rivals by 5 1/4 lengths. Since then, she has posted four more victories at allowance level across the three NYRA tracks.

“Betsy is a love,” said Rice. “We’ve had her a couple years and I just wanted to get a chance to get a graded placing for her and secure a broodmare future for her because we love her.”

Rice said Betsy Blue could target the Grade 3, $250,000 Barbara Fritchie on February 18 at Laurel Park next.

“I don’t know exactly where I’m going to go, but I kind of am looking at the Barbara Fritchie in the long term,” said Rice. “Maybe we would run once or twice before then. She’s just been amazing.”

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