Frosted Departure wrapped up a tremendous weekend for trainer Kenny McPeek when he went wire-to-wire to win the $200,000 Lake Ouachita Stakes by four-and-a-half lengths on closing day at Oaklawn Park on 5 May.
The four-year-old Frosted colt, who has won two of four starts this season, was adding a second Stakes win to his resume, to go along with his victory in the Renaissance Stakes – also at Oaklawn – that he won as a juvenile. In between those two Stakes wins have come numerous Stakes-placings, including a third in both the G3 Southwest Stakes and G3 Chick Lang Stakes, both in 2023.
Ridden by jockey Julien Leparoux, Frosted Departure popped out of the starting gate and went right to the lead, quickly opening up by a length over his rivals. The grey/roan colt was never threatened, as he led the field through the far turn and into the stretch, where he drew off while under a hand ride. Strong Tide made a belated rally to take second, with Nautical Star finishing third.
Frosted Departure was bred in Kentucky by Alastar Thoroughbred Company and is out of Undeterred, a winning daughter of More Than Ready. In addition to Frosted Departure, Undeterred is the dam of Stakes winner Kynlie’s Empire (Classic Empire) and Graded Stakes-placed Preservancia (California Chrome). Also found in the immediate family are G2 winners Dream About (Cherokee Run), Rocketry (Hard Spun) and Deeply Undervalued (Kitten’s Joy).
Frosted is off to a hot start in 2024, with six Stakes winners to his credit so far. In addition to Frosted Departure, the stallion is represented by Post Time, already a three-time Stakes winner in 2024, including victories in the G2 Carter Stakes and G3 General George; the talented juvenile Bustling, a three-time Graded Stakes winner in Australia; Frost At Dawn (G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint); Security Code (Broadway Stakes) and Icicles, winner of the Likely Exchange Stakes.
Frosted is standing the 2024 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $10,000, stands and nurses.
