Bio for Ice Box
Ice Box proved his 20-1 upset victory in the Grade 1 Florida Derby was no fluke when he overcame numerous obstacles to finish second in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. After lagging in 19th for the first half mile, Ice Box steadied multiple times as he picked off rivals, and was gaining on Super Saver in deep stretch after finding racing room in the middle of the track. The son of Pulpit will probably receive heavy betting support in the Belmont off that eye-catching effort, but may find himself against the race flow if there isn’t a strong enough pace to set up his stretch run. Owner Robert LaPenta and Nick Zito teamed up to upset the 2008 Belmont with Da’ Tara, with Zito having also won the race in 2004 with Birdstone.
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Prep Recap
| Date |
Trk |
Race |
Chart |
Distance |
Finish |
BSF |
Video |
| 1/18 |
GP |
ALW 37000 N1X |
Chart |
1 1/8 miles |
1st |
89 |
 |
| 2/20 |
GP |
Fountain of Youth GII |
Chart |
1 1/8 miles |
5th |
86 |
|
| 3/20 |
GP |
Florida Derby GI |
Chart |
1 1/8 miles |
1st |
99 |
|
| 5/01 |
CD |
The Kentucky Derby |
Chart |
1 1/4 miles |
2nd |
100 |
|
Profile by Mike Welsch
Strengths: Proved he was a major player in the division with his huge performance in the Kentucky Derby, a race he arguably could have won with a luckier trip. Like the fact that he's been freshened since the race, and that recent bullet half-mile drill was pretty much a carbon copy of his final Derby prep, an indication he's going into the race in similarly top condition. Ice Box is bred as well as anybody in the field to stay the distance being out of a mare, Spice Island, who was a Grade 2 winner going 1 1/2 miles.
Weaknesses: Although he zipped through another fast workout earlier this week, this horse has had a pretty one-dimensional running style of late, which means he could be at the mercy of a slow and uncontested pace. He also finished off the board in his only previous start at Belmont Park when showing early speed and fading late, albeit at a time when he obviously was not nearly as sharp or experienced as he is today.
Strategy: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. It wouldn't make sense to change this guy's running style at this point of the game, after he was able to rate far back and make one sustained run to win the Florida Derby and then finish second in the Kentucky Derby.
Value: He was 20-1 in the Florida Derby and 11-1 at Churchill Downs, but the cat is out of the bag now. In light of his well-documented eventful trip in the Derby, he figures to be overbet and undervalued as the favorite in the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Pedigree Analysis By Dan Illman
Sire: Pulpit, fourth in the 1997 Kentucky Derby, was giving up valuable experience to that field as he was unraced as a juvenile. He won 4 of 6 starts at 3, including the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at nine furlongs and the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. Pulpit earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in all six of his starts, topping out with the 108 he received for an entry-level allowance victory around two turns at Gulfstream. Pulpit's sire, A.P. Indy, won the Belmont Stakes at 1 1/2 miles and the Breeders' Cup Classic at 1 1/4 miles. Pulpit's top progeny have done their best racing between one mile and 1 1/8 miles, but he has the pedigree to sire a classic contender.
Dam: Spice Island won the Grade 2 Long Island Handicap with a 102 Beyer going 1 1/2 miles on grass and adds plenty of stamina to Ice Box's pedigree. She won at distances between 1 1/16 miles and 1 1/2 miles on both turf and dirt. Ice Box's second dam is a half-sister to Spend a Buck, the Kentucky Derby winner of 1995.
Outlook: Late-running Ice Box has class on the top of his bloodlines and a ton of stamina on the bottom. He seems tailor-made for longer-distance races.