Keen Ice, Itsaknockout expected for Donn Handicap

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Keen Ice and Itsaknockout are the biggest names Gulfstream Park racing officials are expecting for the Grade 1 Donn Handicap, which is one of six stakes to be run here next Saturday, Feb. 6.

Keen Ice, the only horse to defeat American Pharoah last year, was scheduled to have his final pre-race breeze this weekend at Gulfstream in preparing for the $500,000 Donn.

“He’s done really well with the little downtime we gave him,” said Dale Romans, trainer of Keen Ice, who upset American Pharoah in the Travers Stakes in August. “We’re hoping this is the first step toward a huge year. We really think he could be the best older horse in the country in 2016.”

Itsaknockout is one of as many as four horses that trainer Todd Pletcher could send postward in the 1 1/8-mile Donn, with the others being Madefromlucky, Mshawish, and Tommy Macho. Itsaknockout recently returned from an eight-month layoff with a dominating optional-claiming victory.

“We’re really happy with the way he’s come back,” said Jack Wolf, whose Starlight Racing owns Itsaknockout.

Other Donn prospects include Financial Modeling, Mexikoma, Page McKenney, and possibly Closing Bell.

Weight assignments were to be released Saturday, with entries drawn Wednesday.

◗ Gulfstream is running a 13-race card next Sunday – Super Bowl Sunday. The card starts at noon Eastern and ends shortly before 6 p.m. The Super Bowl kicks off at about 6:30.

“We’re inviting fans to stick around and watch the game right here,” said racing secretary P.J. Campo.

◗ About 25 3-year-olds from this area competed last week in four stakes at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales, including maybe a half-dozen that might have been competitive on the Holy Bull card here Saturday. No more than seven horses were entered in four of the five stakes here on Saturday.