Frost Wise looks tough in Biogio's Rose

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Frost Wise will be coming back on relatively short rest while Holiday Disguise returns from a lengthy layoff when the two stakes winners clash in Thursday’s $100,000 Biogio’s Rose Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares at Aqueduct.

The Biogio’s Rose, run at a one-turn mile, was originally scheduled for Sunday but only had three entrants and was not carded. It went with six fillies and mares when re-drawn Sunday, including Decorator Jenn who finished third in an allowance race Saturday.

Frost Wise, a 4-year-old daughter of Frost Giant trained by Michael Dilger, has won her last two starts, including a nose victory over Riot Worthy in the Jan. 18 Bay Ridge Stakes in which Frost Wise won the bob after a quarter-mile duel with the runner-up. That race was run at 1 1/8 miles. Frost Wise won a first-level New York-bred allowance race by 16 1/4 lengths going a one-turn mile Nov. 30.

“If you look at the video of her last two races, obviously she would seem to prefer the oneturn mile,” Dilger said.

Frost Wise has the rail and Kendrick Carmouche, and figures to be a pace presence from the outset.

Holiday Disguise, a 4-year-old daughter of Harlan’s Holiday trained by Linda Rice, has not run since winning the Bouwerie Stakes last May 29 at Belmont. Rice has previously said the filly was sidelined by ankle issues.

Rice has spent the last month trying to run Holiday Disguise but between races being postponed due to weather and a quarantine of her barn that prohibited horses from running, Holiday Disguise has been a spectator.

Returning at a mile is not easy, and she figures to need this race.

Literata and No Hayne No Gayne look to be the threats to the top two. Carry Your Heels and Decorator Jenn complete the field.

The Biogio’s Rose will go as race 7 on an eight-race card.

KEY CONTENDERS:

Frost Wise, by Frost Giant Last 3 Beyers: 83-88-72

◗ Got squeezed between horses at the quarter pole, surrendered the lead slightly in midstretch, yet still battled on bravely to nose out Riot Worthy in the Bay Ridge here three weeks ago.

◗ Comes back in three weeks, but won a first-level allowance by 16 1/4 lengths last Nov. 30 when coming back in a similar time frame.

“If she reproduces her race from Nov. 30, she should be live,” Dilger said. “She’s back to training her usual self.”

Holiday Disguise, by Harlan’s Holiday Last 3 Beyers: 85-82-65

◗ An ankle injury sidelined her following her victory in the Bouwerie Stakes at Belmont in what has now turned into a 255-day layoff.

◗ DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Rice is 14 for 75 with a $1.29 ROI the last two years with horses returning from a layoff of greater than 180 days.

◗ Holiday Disguise did beat Frost Wise by 1 1/4 lengths in a first-level allowance here last April.