Keen Ice remains on course for Breeders' Cup Classic 2017

Finishing a game second in Saturday's Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, trainer Todd Pletcher reported Donegal Racing's multiple graded stakes winner Keen Ice came out of the race in good order as well as stablemates Destin and Rally Cry, who ran fifth and sixth, respectively.

Failing to pick up an automatic all-entries-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic with a victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Pletcher thought Keen Ice's race in which he matched a career-high 106 Beyer Speed Figure was a good enough effort to serve as a useful prep heading towards the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on November 4 at Del Mar. 

"He came back good," said Pletcher. "Hats off to the winner, he ran a good race. We were hoping for a little more pace pressure on him. I thought he put in a good long sustained run and just couldn't get there. I think he ran his race. He matched his career-best Beyer and we would've love to have won but I thought he ran his race."

The 2-year-old Montauk, who impressively broke his maiden by 11 ¼ lengths on Saturday's card in his first start, also returned from his race well, according to Pletcher. Although not certain, the option to enter into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile is being discussed.

"He had been training very well," said Pletcher. "We were hoping for a good effort from him and we certainly got that. We think he's talented enough so we'll have a conversation about the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but we're based in New York and to only have had one start and travel to Del Mar where the likely favorite [Bolt d'Oro] has had two races over that track and three starts already it would be a tall order, but we'll give it some time."

Another impressive win on Saturday's card for the Pletcher barn came in the third race, when 3-year-old Copper Town took an allowance race by 6 ¼ lenghts making only his third start for owners WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, S.F. Racing and Head of Plains Partners. 

"He's a promising horse as he's shown in his last two races," said Pletcher. "He looked very good and I like the way he handled the step up in class and stretch out in distance. We'll play it by ear from here but he'll likely be pointed for the [Grade 3, $200,000] Discovery or the Cigar Mile.