Coming into Saturday's Woodward off of two dominant victories, Frosted was sent off as the heavy favorite, but it was long-shot Shaman Ghost who made his way to the winner's circle. Our Matt Hunter spoke with the trainer on the surprise upset.

SARATOGA, N.Y. -- "I grew up watching my dad run all of these races when I was a little kid," said Jimmy Jerkens, trainer of Woodward-winning long-shot Shaman Ghost.

Among the many lessons trainer Jimmy Jerkens learned from his late father, Allen, who's known in these parts as "the giant killer," never back down from a heavy favorite.

"It's not being cocky or anything, but if you have a horse that's doing really good, you can't concede races," Jimmy said.

While Frosted is no Secretariat, who the elder Jerkens defeated not once, but twice in his Hall of Fame career, the gray colt looked like no match for the other eight entered in Saturday's Woodward Stakes after his two dominating performances earlier this summer.

That made no difference to Jerkens, who entered his colt Shaman Ghost in the Woodward despite finishing fifth in his latest start. 

"His [Frosted's] last two races were through the roof and you know, and they just don't duplicate it all the time," Jimmy said.

Uncharacteristically settling several lengths behind the race's leaders, Frosted did not look like the same horse who won so easily in the Met Mile and Whitney Handicap.

"He had a bad trip, he didn't break sharp and then he was very wide and the winner ran big and he ran well, just not himself," Frosted trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said.

With Saratoga living up to its famous reputation as the "Graveyard of Favorites" once again, it was Shaman Ghost who crossed the wire in front. 

"When I saw Frosted, he moved way outside," Shaman Ghost jockey Javier Castellano said. "I just decided to go inside and cut the corner and split horses and the way he did it, very impressive."

"He kind of saw daylight and took off," Jimmy said. "He was eating so much dirt the rest of the way."

Just don't go telling Jerkens that he's trying to match his father's success as a David beating a Goliath. 

Jimmy was asked, "Do you think somebody's going to call you 'the Giant Killer' after that?"

"I hope not," he answered as he laughed.