Keen Ice Works Towards Classic

Keen Ice (Curlin) returned to the worktab for the first time since taking down the colors of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GI Travers S. Aug. 29, going an easy half-mile in :51.20 over the Churchill main track under the watchful eye of trainer Dale Romans. The bay, who was also runner-up to the champion-elect in the GI William Hill Haskell Invitational S. Aug. 2, is being trained up to the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland Oct. 31.

“It looked like he felt real good,” Romans said. “He just kind of stretched his legs a little bit. We have a lot of time between now and the Breeders’ Cup.”

The conditioner continued, “He has just always seemed like a horse with a lot of talent. He’s really figured out how to run. He’s developed and matured a lot mentally, and Kent [Desormeaux] helped with that and helped him switch leads a bit better. The horse has really developed his own confidence.”

Desormeaux had ridden Keen Ice in his three starts prior to the Travers, but Javier Castellano had the call in the Midsummer Derby.