Keen Ice Tackles Another Tall Task in Whitney Cont
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 2017 KEEN ICE TACKLES FREDERICK HOPES FOR ANOTHER DIAMOND AT F-T SARATOGA by Jessica Martini ANOTHER TALL TASK When Kentucky breeder Todd Frederick sold a Congrats filly for $60,000 as a short yearling at the 2016 Keeneland January IN WHITNEY sale, he admitted he was satisfied, but certainly not over the moon, with the transaction. With that yearling now an OBS March sale topper and a >TDN Rising Star,= Frederick will be looking for a bigger result when he sends Diamondsandpearls=s half-sister by Orb (hip 136) through the ring during the second session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale next Tuesday. AWe were hoping for a little more, but we were satisfied,@ Frederick said of the 2016 sales result. AWere we overly happy? No, but we were satisfied. We were looking to get some of our money back in a quick return on the investment that we made, so that was the decision we made at the time.@ Cont. p4 (click here) IN TDN EUROPE TODAY Keen Ice | Sarah K. Andrew HERE COMES WHEN IN SUSSEX SHOCKER Seven-year-old gelding Here Comes When (Ire) (Danehill by Ben Massam Dancer {Ire}) rolled through the mud to win Wednesday’s G1 SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It has been nearly two years since Sussex S. at Glorious Goodwood at 20-1. Donegal Racing=s Keen Ice (Curlin) forged past American Click or tap here to go straight to TDN Europe. Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in deep stretch to capture the GI Travers S., and the late-running veteran will get another chance to add his name to Saratoga=s extensive list of high-profile upsets when he takes on two-time Grade I winner and expected heavy favorite Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg} in Saturday=s GI Whitney S. Jerry Crawford, president of Donegal Racing, said Keen Ice is thriving and ready to compete at Saratoga for the first time since his defining victory. "We're excited,@ Crawford said when asked about the Whitney match-up Wednesday morning. AThere's nothing on paper that suggests that we can beat Gun Runner on Saturday, but there was surely nothing on paper that suggested we would beat American Pharoah on Travers day a couple years ago. We're running at a place we know he loves." While Gun Runner does not carry quite the same mystique as a once-beaten Triple Crown winner, he has developed into a formidable handicap horse--one that would likely tower over the division if not for the presence of international superstar Arrogate (Unbridled's Song). Cont. p3 PRESIDENT & CO-PUBLISHER Barry Weisbord @barryweisbord [email protected] SR. V.P. & CO-PUBLISHER Sue Morris Finley @suefinley [email protected] V.P., INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS Gary King @garykingTDN [email protected] Thursday, August 3, 2017 EDITORIAL [email protected] Editor-in-Chief Jessica Martini @JessMartiniTDN Managing Editor Alan Carasso @EquinealTDN Senior Editor Steve Sherack @SteveSherackTDN Racing Editor Brian DiDonato @BDiDonatoTDN Associate Editors Christie DeBernardis @CDeBernardisTDN Ben Massam @BMassamTDN Assistant Editor Joe Bianca @JBiancaTDN ADVERTISING [email protected] Director of Advertising Alycia Borer Advertising Manager Lia Best Advertising Designer Amanda Crelin Advertising Assistants Alexa Reisfield Michelle Benson Photo Editor/Dir. of Distribution Sarah K. Andrew @SarahKAndrew Up and away. 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Ray Villa [email protected] WORLDWIDE INFORMATION TODAY’S GRADED STAKES International Editor EST Race Click for TV Kelsey Riley @kelseynrileyTDN 9:25a Lillie Langtry S.-G3, GOO -------------- ----- [email protected] European Editor 10:00a Qatar Richmond S.-G2, GOO -------------- ----- Emma Berry 10:35a Qatar Nassau S.-G1, GOO -------------- ----- [email protected] Associate International Editor Heather Anderson @HLAndersonTDN Newmarket Bureau, Cafe Racing Sean Cronin & Tom Frary [email protected] 60 Broad Street, Suite 100 Red Bank, NJ 07701 732-747-8060 | 732-747-8955 (fax) www.TheTDN.com TDN HEADLINE NEWS • PAGE 3 OF 11 • THETDN.COM THURSDAY • AUGUST 3, 2017 Keen Ice Tackles Another Tall Task in Whitney cont. AKeen Ice=s win at Belmont was more satisfying than anything I Keen Ice, of course, was trained by Dale Romans when he could ever describe,@ Crawford said. AFirst of all, he=s an old guy defeated American Pharoah, but after failing to regain his top like me, and there are extra points for that. He=s spent his career form in five subsequent starts, he was transferred to the care of first running against American Pharoah, then running against Todd Pletcher midway through California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), the 2016 season. The bay and now running against finished a good third behind Arrogate (Unbridled=s Song).@ Arrogate in the GI Breeders= Cup Crawford speculated that, Classic at Santa Anita in depending on how Arrogate exits November and ran fourth and his recent disappointing fourth- seventh behind his gray foe in the place finish in Del Mar=s GII San Jan. 28 GI Pegasus World Cup Diego H. July 22, Gun Runner Invitational and Mar. 25 G1 Dubai could be ready to assume the World Cup, respectively. role of the top older male in Settling in at Pletcher=s barn in training. As such, the Donegal New York upon his return to the team strongly considered calling States, Keen Ice responded with a an audible and sending their resounding upset of heavily stable star to the West Coast for favored MGISW Shaman Ghost the Aug. 19 GI Pacific Classic. (Ghostzapper) in the July 8 GII AOnce Arrogate lost, all of a Suburban H. at Belmont, thrilling sudden the Pacific Classic was an enthusiastic crew of Donegal back in front of us as a desirable Jerry Crawford | Horsephotos partners who were on hand to option,@ Crawford explained. watch. Cont. p4 TDN HEADLINE NEWS • PAGE 4 OF 11 • THETDN.COM THURSDAY • AUGUST 3, 2017 Keen Ice Tackles Another Tall Task in Whitney cont. AOn the days when we've been fortunate enough to be 3-5 in a AIt=s a mile and a quarter as opposed to a mile and an eighth, graded stakes race, it seems like more pressure, but on days which I would love. It=s a race we won three years ago with when we're an underdog, I feel like I'd rather be the favorite,@ Dullahan. It would give us two extra weeks. There was a lot to Crawford said with a laugh. AHorse ownership is not for the faint be said for it, but at the end of the day we=re a little more east of heart. It's always something.@ coast-oriented ... And most importantly, Todd Pletcher believes the horse is training literally the best he=s trained since he=s had him under his care.@ Crawford said he believes jockey Jose Ortiz has an immense Frederick Hopes for Another Diamond at F-T Saratoga cont. amount of confidence aboard the horse in both the afternoons Frederick purchased Azalea Belle (Dixie Union), with and mornings, where Keen Ice has been breezing with good Diamondsandpearls in utero, for $75,000 at the 2015 Keeneland energy. January sale. After he sold the filly at Keeneland January, he Donegal Racing has an opportunity to play the role of upsetter watched as she went on to sell for $250,000 at the Keeneland on Whitney eve as well, with their sophomore turfer Arklow September Yearling Sale eight months later and then again for a (Arch) set to do battle in the GII National Museum of Racing Hall sale-topping $1.7 million at this year=s OBS March sale. of Fame S. Never favored in his eight previous starts, the bay Diamondsandpearls was tabbed a >TDN Rising Star= after her pulled off a 16-1 shocker in the GII American Turf S. on debut win at Santa Anita in July and goes postward as an GI Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs in his first start facing exciting prospect in Saturday=s GII Sorrento S. at Del Mar. winners. From a handicapper=s perspective, Crawford admitted that he fully expected Arklow to contend for a victory in the July 8 GI Belmont Derby, but his hopes were dashed when the colt encountered trouble at the start and endured a wide-the-whole-way trip. AIf he runs his American Turf race in the Hall of Fame, he should win [Friday],@ Crawford said. AConversely, he really was disappointing in the Belmont Derby. We thought he would win that day, and we bet accordingly, frankly. That=s the way to tell whether an owner really believes what he=s saying.@ Always offering a frank assessment of his horses= chances, Crawford explained that Arklow hasn=t been as flashy in the mornings compared to the days prior to the Belmont Derby-- which may be a sign of maturity rather than a negative indicator. AWe=re very optimistic, and believe there=s an excellent chance he=ll give his best Friday--but no guarantees,@ Crawford said. Diamondsandpearls | Benoit AWe know what he can do, and we know what he can do is good enough. And we know he=s as sound as he can be.@ Frederick admitted he had mixed emotions about the Donegal will send out a total of four starters between Friday juvenile=s accomplishments.