Kelly Mitchell stood just outside a box near the clubhouse stairs, watching intently while his homebred filly Kid Is Frosty and Irad Ortiz Jr. clicked off furlong after furlong of Wednesday’s Statue of Liberty division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes.
Mitchell, who grew up in Sallisaw, Okla., and learned racing with his parents at tiny Blue Ribbon Downs, didn’t budge while Bangle Gal started to retreat, Sterling Beauty stayed on and Niko’s Dream ranged up. Mitchell finally moved a few strides from the wire, the 1-mile turf stakes all but over and Ortiz on the way to his second of what turned into five wins on the card.
Kid Is Frosty duplicated her effort in the 7-furlong Cupecoy’s Joy division of the Stallion Series – when she won by a neck from Niko’s Dream June 23 at Belmont – with a 3-length score this time going 1 mile. The 3-year-old daughter of Frost Giant won in 1:35.22 over the inner course listed good after rain Tuesday and a strong shower early in the card Wednesday.
“I definitely wanted it to stay on the turf,” said Mitchell, who races in the name Bad Boy Racing. “The biggest question was stretching out an extra furlong. Niko’s Dream probably liked the extra distance. Dustin (Dugas), with Brad Cox Racing, felt she could go the extra distance. It was just a matter of getting her in condition and he had her just right. It sure looked that way.”
Kid Is Frosty improved to 3-for-9 with the victory and padded her bankroll to $280,834 with the $82,500 payday.
Mitchell bought the Lemon Drop Kid mare Murmure, in foal to New York-based sire Frost Giant, for $20,000 on the advice of Cecil Seaman at the 2015 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Three months later Murmure delivered the chestnut filly Kid Is Frosty in New York.
Mitchell, who lives in Dallas and campaigned 1996 Oklahoma-bred Horse of the Year and graded stakes winner Slew O Mink, liked the looks of the young filly so much that he bred Murmure back to Frost Giant. He also liked the chances to recoup some of his investment in the New York-bred program.
To read the rest of the Statue of Liberty recap, download Thursday’s digital edition of The Saratoga Special presented by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.
