Keen Ice going full speed ahead to Travers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Keen Ice continued his preparation for the Grade 1 Travers Stakes on Aug. 29 with another strong gallop Wednesday here. Trainer Dale Romans said he plans to breeze the colt Saturday on Saratoga’s main track.

“The plan is to run, whoever’s in the race,” Romans said, alluding to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, whose status for the Travers remains uncertain.

Keen Ice finished third in the Belmont Stakes and second in the Haskell Invitational. In the Haskell, he rallied behind a geared-down American Pharoah while finishing clear of the rest of the field. Romans said he is eager to stretch his colt back out from the 1 1/8 miles of the Haskell to the 1 1/4 miles of the Travers.

“The further, the better with him,” Romans said. “He’s a big old freight train. He really doesn’t have that Ferrari acceleration; he just gets to grinding.”

Javier Castellano will ride Keen Ice in the Travers. Kent Desormeaux, who was aboard the colt in his last three starts, is committed to ride Jim Dandy Stakes winner Texas Red for his brother Keith.

Romans also sent Keen Pauline out to gallop Wednesday. The winner of the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico in May, Keen Pauline was sixth in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on Saratoga’s opening weekend. Romans said he’s not sure where she’ll run next.