Keen Ice in Two-Mile Jog at Belmont Park

Belmont Stakes presented by DraftKings (gr. I) hopeful Keen Ice went to the track at Belmont Park the morning of June 4, his first outing since arriving in New York from Kentucky June 2.



Going to the track shortly after the renovation break, Donegal Racing's son of Curlin   had a two-mile jog around the track.



"He looked good this morning," trainer Dale Romans said. "He just jogged and he walked part of the way. Twice around is three miles and we only wanted to go two, so he walked a mile and jogged about two.



"Today was more about letting him look around at the scenery because it's a lot different than any place else. Everything's been so easy so far. When things go easy, they usually end up good. All the heavy lifting is done; we'll go an easy gallop tomorrow, stand in the gate and it's all done."



Keen Ice, who drew post 7 in the eight-horse field, will be Romans' sixth Belmont Stakes starter, resulting in a trio of third-place finishes, most recently with Medal Count in 2014.



"I like my post, but it doesn't make a big difference in this race," said Romans. "You've got a mile and a half so it's not like the first quarter is going to be a 'do or die.' I like having horses on both sides of my horse when they break. That's the biggest thing. They seem to come out a little straighter and cleaner and not break into the open area like when they're in the one or the outside."



Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, who piloted Keen Ice to a late-closing seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will be aboard Saturday.



"I think Kent's definitely one of the best riders in the country," Romans said. "He's a difference-maker in a race and we're glad to have him."