Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Wild on Ice

Mar 28, 2023 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Frank Sumpter’s homebred Wild on Ice upset most pundits with his 1 1/4-length triumph in the $600,000 Sunland Park Derby (G3) March 26. Trained by Joel Marr, the three-year-old ran 1 1/8 miles on the fast main surface in 1:51.39 at odds of 35-1 under the guidance of Ken Tohill.

The victory prompted Wild on Ice’s connections to make a late nomination to the Triple Crown, meaning he earned 50 qualifying points for his Sunland Park Derby success and all but guaranteed a Kentucky Derby start should his team wish to take it up.

Wild on Ice was a debut winner in a six furlong maiden special weight tilt at Zia Park on November 8, and followed that tally with a two-length allowance score while running 5 1/2 furlongs at the same venue Dec. 19 to conclude his brief juvenile campaign.

The gelding was unplaced in his three-year-old bow in the Riley Allison S., and he preceded his Sunland Park Derby tally with a third-place finish in the Mine That Bird Derby Feb. 28. His career mark after his Sunland Park Derby success stood at 5-3-0-1, $405,400.

A son of Tapizar, Wild on Ice was bred in Texas and is the first black-type victor produced from the winning Grand Slam mare Slamitagain. This is the female line responsible for 1999 Florida Derby (G1) winner Vicar and Scandinavian champion Let’sgoforit.

Wild on Ice has registered Brisnet Speed figures of 77-82-57-77-96 in his five lifetime tries to date. He is improving but will need to get much faster to challenge the best in his division at Churchill Downs on May 6.