A highlight of Saturday’s stakes-filled program at Aqueduct is the $400,000 Frizette Stakes, a significant preparatory contest for the Oct. 31 NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
The Frizette frequently generates Breeders’ Cup victors, so it’s not surprising to see a strong and competitive 11-horse field entered for the 2025 edition. There are several plausible candidates for victory among the entrants, but my primary selection is #2 Carmel Coast.
Carmel Coast demonstrated superior ability when debuting in a maiden special weight race sprinting on Aug. 10 at Saratoga. After establishing a clear early advantage, she surged ahead in the stretch to defeat six rivals by 5 1/2 lengths. The second-place finisher, #11 Lovely Christina, subsequently won her next race and is also entered in the Frizette. The fourth-place finisher, Memorized, also secured a victory in her following start.
Having overcome quality competition in the swift time of 1:17.25 for 6 1/2 furlongs, Carmel Coast brings impressive credentials into the Frizette. If you’re wagering on the Frizette with a modest budget (perhaps $10), a straightforward win bet on Carmel Coast is the strategy we suggest.
However, if you desire to wager more (maybe $30) and aim for a larger payout, you should also consider betting Carmel Coast to win in an exacta, using #6 Iron Orchard for second place.
Iron Orchard is among the most accomplished entrants in the Frizette. She remains undefeated and unchallenged in two starts, both at Saratoga. Initially, she led throughout to dominate a maiden special weight race by 5 1/2 lengths while easing to the finish. Subsequently, she progressed in class for the Seeking the Ante Stakes and once again led from start to finish, winning by 6 3/4 lengths, completing the distance in a sharp time of 1:10.68 for three-quarters of a mile.
The Seeking the Ante was limited to fillies bred in New York, but Iron Orchard’s winning margin and final time indicate that she will compete effectively against open competition in the Frizette. It is advantageous that she will be ridden by Joel Rosario, who has twice secured victory in the Frizette in gate-to-wire fashion with Jaywalk (2018) and Wicked Whisper (2019).
Wagering Approach on a $10 Budget
$10 to win on #2 Carmel Coast
Instructions for the betting clerk: Belmont at the Big A, Race 6, $10 to win on 2
Wagering Approach on a $30 Budget
$20 to win on #2 Carmel Coast
Instructions for the betting clerk: Belmont at the Big A, Race 6, $20 to win on 2
$10 exacta: 2 with 6
Instructions for the betting clerk: Belmont at the Big A, Race 6, $10 exacta 2 with 6
We wish you the best of luck and hope you enjoy the race!
