Keen Ice still on the fence for Clark Handicap

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Nobody appreciates Keen Ice more than Jerry Crawford, who manages the Donegal Racing partnership that owns the Travers Stakes winner. That appreciation is why Crawford was waffling this week about whether the star 3-year-old actually will start Friday in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.

“There is a combination of factors stacked against us,” said Crawford, citing possible rainy weather and the 1 1/8-mile distance among them. “I think the colt is definitely better at 1 1/4 miles. We’re going to focus on whether this is really a fair fight before deciding if we’ll run.”

Crawford said an apparent lack of pace could favor the two older horses in outside gates, Effinex and Race Day, leaving Keen Ice at a sizable disadvantage when trying to make up ground.

“In order to beat what is a very, very good field, we will have to be much the best,” said Crawford.

Crawford also said discussions are ongoing in regard to a possible sale of Keen Ice to breeding farms and that “when that comes to a resolution, it could also affect his future, although I don’t expect anything to happen before the race.”

Dream Supreme draws nine

True to the big-event theme here Friday, there are a number of excellent races in support of the Clark and the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf – and none better than the Dream Supreme, an $80,000 overnight stakes that drew nine filly-and-mare sprinters as the ninth of 12 races.

House of Sole, the lukewarm morning-line favorite off a series of sharp local efforts, has a tricky assignment from her rail post when facing the more stakes-seasoned likes of Spring Included, Shanon Nicole, and Milam. Top to bottom, it’s a terrific second-tier feature.