Keen Ice Better Than Ever Coming Into Breeders’ Cup Classic

Keen Ice upset American Pharoah in August in the Travers Stakes. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire)
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Jerry Crawford, president of Donegal Racing, wanted to make certain reporters heard the message on his cellphone when he met with them on Monday to discuss the draw for post positions for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Reporters heard the voice of Larry Collmus, the New York Racing Association’s announcer, call the stretch run of the Travers Stakes, when Donegal’s Keen Ice dealt Triple Crown winner American Pharoah a stunning upset by three-quarters of a length.
Crawford displayed the confidence with which he is approaching the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday by predicting, “We’ll have a new recording Saturday evening.”
His trainer, Dale Romans, shares his optimism. “It’s not the American Pharoah show,” he said of the Classic.
It seems that Mike Battaglia, Keeneland’s oddsmaker, expects fans to view it that way. He established the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years as a heavy 6-5 favorite. He seemingly dismissed the Travers outcome by listing Keen Ice at 12-1.
Crawford’s reaction to that?
“I’ll take some of that 12-1, thank you very much,” he said.
CRAWFORD LEADS KEEN ICE INTO THE TRAVERS WINNER'S CIRCLE

There is little doubt that American Pharoah was the better horse by far in the spring. While American Pharoah was gutting out a one-length decision against Firing Line in the Kentucky Derby, Keen Ice was a well-beaten seventh. When American Pharoah secured the Triple Crown with a Belmont Stakes romp, Keen Ice showed improvement by finishing third but by 7 ½ lengths.
It appeared the tables might be starting to turn when Keen Ice closed to be second by 2 ¼ lengths to American Pharoah in the Haskell Invitational. The race was difficult to gauge because Victor Espinoza, eager to reserve something for the future, eased American Pharoah under the wire.
Romans and Crawford were as excited as they could be at the end of the Haskell, confident the additional furlong in the mile-and-a-quarter Travers and their colt’s ongoing maturation could make the difference.
“He’s a horse that has improved every day that I trained him,” Romans said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen the jump he made from the Haskell to the Travers. He’s still improving.”
KEEN ICE TRAINING AT KEENELAND

The Classic’s mile-and-a-quarter distance should benefit Keen Ice, a son of Curlin. With the increasing distances later in the year, he is willing to stay closer to the pace. That will be one of the keys to his chances after he breaks from post two in the Classic since there is not a great deal of front-end speed beyond American Pharoah. If Keen Ice leaves himself too much to do, it would most likely be over.
Keen Ice’s record is not overly impressive, with two victories, one runner-up finish and three third-place showings for earnings of $1,490,395. The former $120,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland had gone winless through six starts this year before the Travers. The “Mid-Summer Derby” snapped an eight-race losing streak.
That led Romans to decide to train his horse up to the Classic. Baffert reached the same decision with American Pharoah. Some other members of the field, though, are coming off impressive victories in prep races. Tonalist, for instance, became the 11th horse to repeat as a winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. Frosted took the Pennsylvania Derby by two lengths. Smooth Roller, in only his fourth career start, dominated the Awesome Again by 5 ¼ lengths at Santa Anita.
Still, Romans shares Crawford’s unwavering confidence. He picked his horse to win, followed by Tonalist, American Pharoah and Frosted. Asked if Keen Ice is coming into the Classic better than he entered any race, Romans replied, “He couldn’t be doing any better.”