The Peter Walder-trained Force Freeze entered Monmouth
Park’s Teddy Drone Stakes on Haskell Day as a virtual unknown, having run his
previous 13 races in Dubai.
But after running six furlongs in 1:07 3/5 and beating last
year’s Cigar Mile winner Jersey Town by four lengths, the 6-year-old instantly
became a candidate for the $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Saturday, Nov.
5.
This Saturday, Force Freeze will attempt to earn his way to
the Breeders’ Cup by capturing Belmont Park’s Grade 1, $350,000 Vosburgh.
“I would say he’d have to hit the board for us to head to
the Breeders’ Cup,” Walder said. “Maybe
if he ran a troubled fourth we’d think about it.”
While Walder could not have been happier about Force
Freeze’s most recent four-furlong work in :47 flat, the conditioner wasn’t
thrilled with his charge’s rail draw.
“I was hoping for any kind of outside post,” Walder
said. “Of course, he drew the rail. I think he has enough tactical speed to get
good position.
“We shipped him up to Belmont on Saturday to gallop over the
track and then he worked on Sunday. He
worked unbelievable. Paco [jockey Lopez]
was on him and absolutely loved how he went.”
Force Freeze faces no easy task in Saturday’s Vosburgh as he
takes on the likes of reigning Champion Sprinter Big Drama and morning-line
favorite Trappe Shot, last year’s Haskell runner-up.
“It definitely is a salty bunch,” Walder said. “Barring something unforeseen, I wouldn’t be
surprised if every horse comes out of this race and goes to the Breeders’ Cup.”