Frosty Margarita shortens up for Arctic Queen Stakes

Frosty Margarita has made three successful trips to Finger Lakes this year. She won an allowance sprint, was beaten a neck by her stablemate Frostie Anne while stretching out to a mile, and then took down the Jack Betta Be Rite Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

On Monday, trainer Rudy Rodriguez will send Frosty Margarita upstate for a fourth time as he shortens her up to six furlongs in the $50,000 Arctic Queen.

Rodriquez has made good use of Finger Lakes this year, going 12 for 27 through Friday. On Saturday, he has Aspirant runner-up Kadens Courage in the $200,000 New York Breeders’ Futurity.

If Frosty Margarita runs her race Monday, she is the most likely winner of the Arctic Queen. But then again, at age 5 and with 31 races under her belt, she is probably better in races at a mile or over.

John Davila Jr., the all-time winningest rider at Finger Lakes, will be aboard. Look for him to try and keep Frosty Margarita within striking position and not leave her too much work to do in the stretch.

Frosty Margarita’s seven rivals include I Still Miss You, Royal Inheritance, and Crashing Connie, all of whom are quick from the blocks.

I Still Miss You has pulled away after vying for the early lead to win back-to-back allowance races, both for Jeremiah Englehart. Last year at 2, she won the Astoria and finished second in the Lynbrook at Belmont Park, and won the Key Cents in the fall at Aqueduct.

After starting this season in two open stakes in New York and Maryland, she joined Englehart’s Finger Lakes stable and has now regained her best form.

Trainer Rich Schosberg claimed Royal Inheritance for $40,000 out of a second-level optional-claiming race for statebreds at Saratoga. In her first start for her new barn, Royal Inheritance finished second at Belmont to Purse for the curse, who has scored consecutive blowout wins.

Crashing Connie is 5 for 7 this year. A 3-year-old trained by James Wright, her only losses came when she attempted to stretch out around two turns, finishing second in the New York Oaks at Finger Lakes and fifth in a New York Stallion Stakes on the turf at Saratoga.

In her most recent start, Crashing Connie turned back to six furlongs and won a statebred allowance by a head.

She’s Quiet will be coming back on a week’s rest after tiring to seventh in the Charles Town Oaks. In her prior start, she finished second by 4 1/2 lengths to Lake Ponchatrain in a Charles Town allowance. Lake Ponchatrain is 6 for 10 this year and won the open Pink Ribbon Stakes last Saturday at Charles Town.

She’s Quiet will run Monday for Finger Lakes trainer James Acquilano. She has been based in West Virginia with Jeff Allen.

SV PHOTOGRAPHY Frosty Margarita has two firsts and a second in three trips to Finger Lakes this year, including a win in the Jack Betta Be Rite Stakes.