Force Freeze worked a strong half-mile in :47 2/5 from the gate Feb. 12 at Gulfstream Park in preparation for the upcoming $150,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship (gr. II).
The runner-up in last fall's Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) is likely the horse to beat in the seven-furlong Sprint Championship Feb. 18.
“That (work) put the finishing touches on him and we just have to keep him happy up to the race,” said trainer Peter Walder later in the morning. “My only concern is the distance, particularly coming off the layoff. Seven furlongs is a tricky distance. I think he can run with any horse in the country at six furlongs. Paco (Lopez) is confident that the distance will be no problem. I’m excited to get him started back.”
Saeed Naser al Romalthi’s 7-year-old gelding launches a new campaign after a game runner-up effort in the $1.5 million BC Sprint at Churchill Downs Nov. 5. He was beaten by just a neck by Amazombie, later voted Eclipse champion sprinter for the season. The Sprint Championship would be Force Freeze's first start at Gulfstream.
A Kentucky-bred by Forest Camp out of Antifreeze, by It's Freezing, Force Freeze raced in Dubai during the 2010 season and through March last year before being sent to Walder at Monmouth Park early last summer.
In two starts before the Breeders’ Cup he won the Teddy Drone Stakes at Monmouth by four lengths and finished second by a half-length in the Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park Oct. 1. He was ridden both times ridden by Lopez. John Velazquez was aboard the dark bay in the Breeders' Cup.
Force Freeze
Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO