Keen Ice Runs 105 Beyer!

Dear Partners and Friends,

Third in the Belmont Stakes. Now second in the Haskell. Don't look back American Pharoah, someone might be gaining on you ;).

As incredible as the Belmont Stakes experience was, the Haskell succeeded in adding another chapter to the horse racing greatness that is this three year old crop in 2015.

So much to say.

First, our heartfelt thanks to Team Zayat for continuing to run their horse. It is the best thing that has happened to racing in as long as I can remember. To stand near the track as post time approached yesterday and look across the more than 60,000 people assembled was the stuff of goosebumps and memories.

Second, I can't say enough for the job Dale Romans has done in keeping Keen Ice moving forward. At the time when most other three year olds are fading from the grind, our horse keeps getting better and better.

This is a good time to remind everyone of the important job Frank Smith does getting our horses ready at the Elloree Training Center, Byron Rogers and Dr. John Garrity do at the sales and the overall coordination assistance we get from Conor Foley and Jim Hatchett from Oracle Bloodstock. And as most of you know, my son Conor Crawford is the ear that every single decision gets bounced off of.

Yesterday was incredibly important in Ice's development. There was a very real question in the minds of some following the Belmont as to whether Ice could compete at distances shorter than a mile and a half. We knew that if Ice was effective yesterday at just a mile and an eighth he would establish himself as a horse that could run in the major classics at a mile and a quarter. The Travers.  The Breeders' Cup Classic. The Dubai World Cup. 

Being in the paddock with Ice yesterday was no place for cowards. He was as arrogant and bossy as a horse can be, pushing around everyone who tried to handle him. It was fascinating being the paddock for fifteen minutes with both Ice and Pharoah. They could not be more different. Pharoah is like a skinny 6'10" forward in the NBA. ICE is like the most powerful linebacker you have ever seen in the NFL. Night and Day, Day and Night.

With a hand on a bible I truly believe Keen Ice will/could be a better stallion than American Pharoah. In order to get that chance he will have to win some of those classics. And he can! Ice is on the same slowly maturing timeline that we often see with Deputy Minister bloodline, exemplified by Ice's Daddy Curlin, who himself won the Dubai World Cup at 4 after being slow to mature.

Not to be overlooked, the absolute best ride Kent D. has ever given one of our horses. Should we run next in the Travers, we have a challenge. Kent's brother trains Texas Red who Kent rode to victory Saturday in the Jim Dandy. He too may run next in the Travers and we won't try and get between Kent and his brother. Which means a new jock. We are on it and have already talked to some of the best.

What a five weeks we have coming up. Ice, Dunbrody, Eirigh, Irish You Well, O'Prado Ole and Brother O'Connell. And to say nothing of yet, another superb crop of two year olds! Anyone having fun yet?

While we don't know for sure yet about the Travers it is a very real possibility. We will ask you to tell us if you want to come in the next few days so start thinking. It is on Saturday, August 29. Donegal House is sold out that weekend to the rafters so start checking out hotels. They will be far less expensive in Albany which is only 30 minutes away and close to the airport.

If we run in the Travers we will attempt to get all of you tickets. Which won't be easy. But Ice is now the horse everyone wants in the ring with Pharoah and folks will go out of their way for us.

If we run in the Travers we will have a party that Saturday night at Donegal House.

Another possibility is that we could go to the Pennsylvania Derby if that is where Pharoah goes and if they make it worth our while. That race is September 19.

Not to be overlooked is the fact that the sales here at Saratoga start a week from today. Beginning this Saturday/Sunday we will be examining the 33 horses we have selected (out of 209) for inspection. Both colts and fillies, though our priority will always be Derby distance colts.

What a journey this has been for all of us. My gratitude to each and every one of you is profound. We are climbing to the mountain top together!

Jerry

P.S. For those of you Donegal Republicans, please know that in the spirit of bi-partisanship I followed up being at the Belmont with Bill Clinton by spending 15 minutes and watching the Haskell with Chris Christie. I found him engaging, smart, funny and fun to be with. When the race was over and with the press nearby I said, "So Governor, would you take second place in Iowa?" He responded, "In a heartbeat!"