Icy Atlantic makes unexpected waves
OCEANPORT, N.J. – Icy Atlantic has been the most pleasant surprise among the 11 horses trainer Todd Pletcher sends out this weekend in the Breeders’ Cup at Monmouth Park.
“Most of the others are pretty accomplished horses that have been performing well over several years,” Pletcher said.
The 11-race Breeders’ Cup takes place Friday and Saturday at a track where Icy Atlantic has already won two stakes: the 2004 Jersey Derby and a track-record victory in the 1-mile Red Bank on Sept. 1. Icy Atlantic is 30-1 in Saturday’s $1 million Mile on the turf.
Icy Atlantic was purchased by owner James T. Scatuorchio last year to serve as a “rabbit” for more heralded stablemate English Channel.
A “rabbit” is a sacrificial pacesetter used to assure quick fractions that aid a closer. Icy Atlantic played that role for English Channel last year in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park and in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. This season, Icy Atlantic has run on his own, producing three wins in eight starts.
“He’s gone on to do very good things on his own,” Pletcher said. “It’s amazing, because you try to do everything right with so many horses. We did everything wrong with him. We used him as a pacesetter twice and he responded by running some of the best races of his career.”
Pushing Icy Atlantic into the role of rabbit helped the 6-year-old learn to relax and settle in his races.
Many wet fans expected
It could be a soggy weekend on the Jersey Shore for the Breeders’ Cup.
The forecast from weather.com called for a rainy stretch through Saturday. The outlook called for a 50 percent chance of rain Friday, increasing to 70 percent Saturday.
Even with a damp forecast, Monmouth officials remain optimistic Saturday’s card featuring eight Breeders’ Cup races will sell out. About 1,000 of the 47,000 seats remain unsold.
“I have low anxiety,” senior vice president Dennis Dowd said. “This place will be sold out.”
Fever sidelines filly
Trainer Bob Baffert scratched Cry and Catch Me from the $2 million Juvenile Fillies after the winner of the Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita spiked a fever.
“When the temperature hit 102, I pulled the plug,” Baffert said.
The filly is being treated and Baffert did not think the illness was serious.
Talk of the talk
Oprah Winfrey had high praise for her namesake Oprah Winney, the 4-year-old filly and top contender in Friday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
She highlighted the spotted gray horse on Tuesday, showing clips of the filly winning races, eating carrots and sniffing a microphone.
“She comes from humble beginnings and loves a microphone,” Winfrey said.