McLaughlin 'had to change everything' for Frosted ahead of Wood

Not even the University of Kentucky's loss to Wisconsin Saturday evening

could dampen the spirits of trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who hours earlier saddled

Godolphin Racing's Frosted (Tapit) to a solid two-length victory at Aqueduct in

the TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial (G1).

The victory put the gray among the top contenders for the Kentucky Derby (G1)

at Churchill Downs by giving him 100 qualifying points for the May 2 race.

Runner-up Tencendur (Warrior's Reward) earned 40 points, also enough to put

him in the starting gate for the Run for the Roses, while third-place finisher

El Kabeir (Scat Daddy) had already earned enough points to qualify before the

Wood.

"It was such a special win yesterday," said McLaughlin, who attended the

University of Kentucky. "Having worked for Godolphin for 21 years and to have a

three-year-old for them, it worked out great."

Following Frosted's confounding fourth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth

(G2) at Gulfstream Park, where he stopped at the head of the stretch, McLaughlin

changed practically everything about the colt except his color.

He sent Frosted from Florida back to Aqueduct, where he had broken his maiden

and finished second in the Remsen (G2); changed riders from Irad Ortiz Jr. to

Joel Rosario; adjusted his blinkers; had a minor procedure done on his throat to

eliminate any risk of a breathing problem, and worked him three-quarters of a

mile behind two horses.