Giants Causeway – GII
$400.00 – For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward
5 1/2 Furlongs – Turf
Keeneland – April 12, 2026

I have many questions about this race. Why is a graded filly and mare turf sprint named after a famous stallion rather than a fellow filly and mare? Why is the filly and mare sprint division not represented by its own Breeders Cup race? The fillies get a separate dirt sprint but not their own turf sprint? It doesn’t make sense to me. Why is this the one division that suddenly becomes unisex come BC day? One thing that is not in question about the 2026 edition of the Giants Causeway is who the best mare was on the day as Frozen Mist continues to put together a stellar season as she ran the field off their feet while impressively putting away some familiar rivals. 

Winner: Frozen Mist (Maxmillion Farm/S.X. Bridgmohan) Thoughtful Idea/Ice Angel (No Way Dude) After winning a three-way wire to wire battle with Shine To Class and Stellar Strength in her last start she did not shy away from another fight and went right into a head-to-head pacesetting battle with Shine To Class again. Those two fought to the end again with the extra sixteenth of a mile helping Frozen Mist to edge away from Shine To Class once again. After doing the hard work early, that extra distance also provided the added challenge of having to hold off some new late closing rivals which Frozen Mist did holding on to gain the win by a neck. 

Second: Code Red And Ready (Ajm Stables/E. Jaramillo) Red Cup/Armed And Ready (Residue) Followed up her good second in the CA bred Irish Stakes with another good second in her graded stakes debut. Stalked right off the two pacesetters and then made her presence felt in the stretch rallying to become a legitimate threat in the very late stages. 

Third: Shine To Class (Our Athletes/J.R. Velasquez) Welcome To Class/Sunday Dress (Lord High Admiral) I was hoping for a repeat of the sensational Captiva battle between Frozen Mist, Shine To Class and Stellar Strength. I got two thirds of that wish. While Stellar Strength decided to take back this time Shine To Class and Frozen Mist went at it once again right from the starter’s bell. Shine To Class was once again nearly a match for Frozen Mist just getting bested at the very end. Another valiant effort at equal weights with the winner. 

Fourth: Antares (Alydar Stables/A. Fresu) Neon Wolf/Unchained Melody (Cherokee Sunset) Sat a couple of lengths back in the early going and was able to close some ground in the stretch while holding off Stellar Strength for the final check. Continues her consistent good form in graded stakes company just might be at her best with a little more distance. 

The win by Frozen Mist was her second straight stakes win in 2026 and the second graded stakes win of her career. It is the first Giants Causeway win for Maxmillion Farm. It is the fourth win in this prestigious race for jockey S.X. Bridgmohan. Frozen Mist’s $240.00 winner’s share of the purse brings her career earnings to $1,900.69. The win also puts her atop the standings to qualify for the aforementioned unisex BC Turf Sprint at the end of the season.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES