Stakes Advance - Tinsel 2025
Compiled by Robert Yates
Frosted Departure is an Oaklawn stakes winner at 6 furlongs and 1 1/16 miles. Now, the speedy son of Frosted has an opportunity to become one at 1 1/8 miles in the $175,000 Tinsel for older horses Sunday at Oaklawn.
Probable post time for the Tinsel, the ninth of 10 races, is 4:22 p.m. (Central). First post is 12:30 p.m. The Tinsel was originally scheduled to be run Dec. 28 (it was then open to 3-year-olds and up), but Oaklawn canceled the final nine races, citing rain, thunder and lightning.
“Maybe, it (delay) is a benefit,” said Chris Hartman, who trains Frosted Departure.
Frosted Departure will be making his second start for Hartman after he claimed the horse for a hefty $175,000 out of a fifth-place finish Sept. 25 at Churchill Downs. Frosted Departure resurfaced in the $250,000 Cherokee Mile Stakes Dec. 1 at Churchill Downs and faded to eighth after being pressed on the front end through a swift 1:09.41 for six furlongs.
Frosted Departure has excelled in races where he’s controlled the pace through modest fractions, notably the $200,000 Lake Ouachita Stakes at 1 1/16 miles last May at Oaklawn and the $100,000 Deputed Testamony Stakes at 1 1/8 miles July 28 at Laurel.
“I mean, pace,” Hartman said. “We’re worried about the pace. See what happens. See if we can get him to hold a mile and an eighth. He’s obviously done it before. Seems like he wants to be there by himself.”
Frosted Departure is scheduled to break from post 2 under apprentice Tyler Bacon and carry equal top weight of 125 pounds.
Frosted Departure won the Lake Ouachita, Deputed Testamony and $150,000 Renaissance Stakes, a six-furlong race for 2-year-olds in 2022 at Oaklawn, for trainer Kenny McPeek.
The eight-horse Tinsel field includes 5-2 program favorite Horace Mann, who will be making his stakes debut for trainer Phil D’Amato, and millionaire multiple graded stakes winner Red Route One (7-2) for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.
Red Route One is already an Oaklawn stakes winner at 1 1/8 miles, taking the $200,000 Bathhouse Row for 3-year-olds in 2023.
The Bathhouse Row was the 868th career Oaklawn victory for Asmussen, allowing him to surpass the late Bob Holthus as the winningest trainer in Oaklawn history.
