Dubai: Former UAE champion handler Kiaran McLaughlin is hoping to wreck American Pharoah’s Triple Crown bid in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, a race that he believes will be to the advantage of his progressive colt Frosted.
Owned by Godolphin, the son of Tapit overcame a wide trip to finish a closing fourth to American Pharoah in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He skipped the Preakness (G1) but returns fresh after a five-week break in a bid to repeat the feat of McLaughlin’s Jazil in the 2006 running of the Belmont showpiece.
The last nine winners of the Belmont skipped the Preakness and McLaughlin is hoping that Frosted can add to that number. “You are never sure about 12 furlongs over the dirt in America,” McLaughlin said. “The way he closed in the Derby he was the only horse running late, so that gives us confidence. One of the main factors is that the Triple Crown is very demanding on a three-year-old colt; to run three times in five weeks, over different distances and different courses. American Pharoah has been awesome, but this is his fourth race in eight weeks and we hope it catches up with him. We feel the timing is to our advantage. We need Frosted to have an A-plus race and American Pharaoh to have a B race. We like our chances.”
Like Frosted, UAE-owned Mubtaahij, is also attempting to foil American Pharoah’s attempt to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
The UAE Derby winner owned by Shaikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, also skipped the Preakness after finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby.
He is to be ridden for the first time by Irad Ortiz, who replaces regular rider Christophe Soumillon, and will face only seven rivals after Todd Pletcher scratched Carpe Diem on Monday and Kenny McPeek withdrew The Truth Or Else.
