Frosted is set for a short break after putting in an astounding performance under Joel Rosario in the Metropolitan Mile at Belmont Park on Saturday.
The Godolphin grey had not run since finishing fifth to California Chrome in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan in March but slammed his rivals by 14 lengths in the Group One handicap.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin immediately nominated the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on August 6 as Frosted’s next target.
“That was a wow – Frosted is a versatile horse, he was second in the Belmont Stakes last year and he has come back to run like this over a mile in 2016 against such a good group – it is amazing,” McLaughlin told reporters.
“We are very excited and Joel rode a great race. Frosted has stayed sound and he has been doing great all along – he went to Dubai and came back – he is a special horse.
“It is great to see him get a win like this. He was always travelling so well over this mile, a distance he had not raced at for a long time.
“A lot of people have said to me that they have not seen a performance like this before.”
Stablemate Marking, who also underwent a campaign in Dubai, was fourth for Jose Lezcano behind Anchor Down and Upstart, while 2015 Godolphin Mile hero Tamarkuz continues to struggle since his Dubai campaign and was ninth of the ten runners.
In the Belmont Stakes, UAE Derby winner Lani ran his best of the Triple Crown races when the Japanese raider finished third in a thrilling finale to America’s three-race series.
Steve Asmussen’s Creator, ridden to perfection by Irad Ortiz, just held off Destin by a nose in a driving finish.
Exaggerator, the Preakness Stakes winner who started as favourite, was 11th of the 13 runners.
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