Frost Giant prevails in Suburban shocker

Frost Giant was the surprise winner of the Suburban (Ross Woodson/Horsephotos.com) The motto for IEAH Stables and trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. at the current Belmont Park meeting — expect the unexpected. Three weeks after heavily favored Big Brown (Boundary) was eased in the Belmont S. (G1) in his attempt to win the Triple Crown, the same connections, sans Kent Desormeaux, pulled off a massive 40-1 upset of Saturday’s $400,000 Suburban H. (G1) with FROST GIANT (Giant’s Causeway), who fought back in the stretch to win the 1 1/4-mile feature by a half-length. Under Rudy Rodriguez, Frost Giant ran the course in 2:01 2/5 on fast footing, and returned $82, $29.20 and $10.40 while keying exotics of $265.50 (exacta) and $2,620 (2-4-5 trifecta). Frost Giant broke on top in the Suburban and led after the first quarter-mile in :24 1/5, then yielded the lead to the rank Naughty New Yorker (Quiet American), who ran the opening half in :48 2/5. Racing in tandem with those two for the opening six furlongs was Solar Flare (Arg) (Salt Lake), a swift winner of his American debut at Delaware Park in his previous start. After Frost Giant regained command after three-quarters in 1:12, Solar Flare edged ahead of that rival turning for home, getting the mile in 1:36 1/5. The race came down to those two in the stretch, and after Solar Flare opened up a half-length with a furlong to go, Frost Giant gamely fought back inside that rival to pull out the victory.

With no serious threats coming from the back of the field, Solar Flare, at
nearly 5-1, easily held second by three lengths and paid $7 and $4.30. Rising
Moon (Runaway Groom), who raced wide throughout while tracking in fourth early,
edged Harlington (Unbridled) by a neck for third and returned $4 at 4-1.
Following Harlington under the line were Merchant Marine (Tiznow), 6-5 favorite
A. P. Arrow (A.P. Indy), Naughty New Yorker and Hunting (Coronado’s Quest).

Frost Giant was entered in a race at Belmont Park on Wednesday, but was
scratched in what would ultimately prove to be a wise decision.

“Rudy, I’ve got to tell you, gave this horse a very good ride,” Dutrow said.
“For the last two or three weeks, this horse settled down in the mornings. This
was mostly Rudy, not just today, but in the mornings. You could see it
happening.

“I’ll be all right now. This gets me back in the game.”

Owned in a partnership that also includes Andrew Cohen and Pegasus Holding
Group Stables, Frost Giant, a $600,000 Keeneland September sale purchase, began
his career with Aidan O’Brien in Europe, where he was a multiple Group 3 winner.
His biggest scores occurred in the 2005 Killavullan S. (Ire-G3) and the
Kilternan S. (Ire-G3). Frost Giant made his American debut in the fall of 2006,
where he was fifth in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1) and seventh
in the Hollywood Derby (G1). Third in an allowance in his only start of 2007,
Frost Giant returned to the track this past January, winning two Gulfstream
allowances, but then ran fourth in the Skip Away H. (G3) and eighth in an
allowance/optional claimer at Churchill Downs. In his start prior to the
Suburban, Frost Giant was a half-length second in an allowance/optional claimer
over the Monmouth turf.

With the Suburban victory, Frost Giant improved his record to 13-4-2-2 with
earnings of $454,254.

Frost Giant is the first foal out of the Gone West mare Takesmybreathaway,
who was unplaced in two starts in England. She has also produced Shakeyourbody,
an unraced two-year-old full sister to Frost Giant, and a 2008 colt by Storm Cat. Takesmybreathaway, a half-sister to stakes winner and sire Mutakddim (Seeking
the Gold), descends from a prominent Phipps family-owned group of broodmares.
Her second dam, Grade 1 winner Dance Number (Northern Dancer), produced the 1989
two-year-old champion colt, Rhythm (Mr. Prospector). Takesmybreathaway’s third
dam, Numbered Account (Buckpasser), was champion two-year-old filly of 1971 and
would eventually produce multiple Grade 1 winner Private Account (Damascus), the sire of
Hall of Fame champion fillies Personal Ensign and Inside Information, plus 1988
Suburban H. (G1) winner Personal Flag.