Keen Ice Breezes as Jockey Assignment Waits

Donegal Racing's Keen Ice clicked through a five-furlong breeze Oct. 10 at Churchill Downs, getting the distance in 1:01 2/5 under exercise rider Tammy Fox. The Travers (gr. I) winner will complete his final preparations for the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at the Louisville oval amid concerns over the safety of the Keeneland main track.

Donegal principal Jerry Crawford said that while trainer Dale Romans was leaning toward training the 3-year-old son of Curlin   up to the Classic at his Churchill base anyhow, recent breakdowns at Keeneland—the Lexington oval that will host the Oct. 30-31 Breeders' Cup World Championships—cemented that plan. Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) contender Rock Fall became the third fatality of the fall meet on the Keeneland main track when he broke down after a workout and was euthanized Oct. 10.

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"Nobody has more respect for the folks at Keeneland than I do, but it's pretty hard not to be concerned right now and saddened by what's happened over there," Crawford said. "We were always leaning toward staying at Churchill and I think (the breakdowns) probably have solidified our plan."  

Keen Ice, who upset Triple Crown winner American Pharoah when winning the Travers at odds of 16-1 to collect the second win of his career, is "in a holding pattern" where a rider assignment for the Classic is concerned.

Javier Castellano, who rode the big bay for the first time in the Travers, is also the first-call rider for Classic contender Honor Code. Crawford confirmed Irad Ortiz Jr. could pick up the mount if Castellano is not available.

"Obviously Javier rode very well last time and anybody would be glad to have him on their horse," the owner said. "We're just waiting to see how this unfolds in the next week or so. We don't have anything in writing with anyone, but I have nothing but the highest possible regard for Irad and I think he fits the horse very well.

"We would be blessed to have either one of them."

Crawford said he "hadn't stopped smiling" since Keen Ice's Oct. 10 move, his third breeze back since winning the Aug. 29 Travers. The Romans trainee went four furlongs in :50 3/5 Oct. 4 at Churchill and was clocked in :51 1/5 over the same distance there Sept. 19. His current record stands at 2-1-3 from 11 starts for earnings of $1,490,395. That second came to American Pharoah in the William Hill Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park Aug. 2.

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"He worked with Tammy up," Crawford said. "He is easily the hardest horse to handle and control and work that we've ever owned. Dale uses the word 'arrogant,' and I think it's a great word to describe him... but anyway, we love having Tammy up; she gives us impeccable feedback.

"She loved the way he went. He showed what he has developed in the last couple of months, which is tactical speed. That's something that wasn't in his repertoire three months ago, but obviously it was in the Travers, and the breeze today was an indication that was no fluke."