SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher was all smiles when reflecting on Keen Ice’s final work for next Saturday’s Grade 1 Whitney, an easy half-mile in 49.11 seconds punctuated by a sparkling gallop-out into and around the clubhouse turn.

Working in company Saturday with the 3-year-old Patch, Keen Ice began to assert his class nearing the wire, edging two lengths clear while well in reserve before accelerating into the clubhouse bend, completing five-eighths in 1:01.52 and three-quarters in 1:13.84 before pulling up seven furlongs in 1:27.41.

DEL MAR, Calif. – One week after Arrogate’s shockingly dull try in the San Diego Handicap, trainer Bob Baffert on Saturday at Del Mar said he still intended to make the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic here on Aug. 19 with Arrogate, but he left open the possibility of heading to Saratoga for the Woodward Stakes on Sept. 2 if he deems Arrogate needs more time.

For most owners, being on the wrong side of a photo in a $500,000 race might take years to get over. But for Brad Grady, there was a silver lining to last month’s Ohio Derby, where his Girvin finished second by a nose to Irap. It was a good advertisement for the pinhooking side of his business.

“We actually bought Irap as a yearling, sold him as a 2-year-old in training,” Grady said of himself and agent Bobby Dodd. “He’s a graduate of ours.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Only three horses were entered in Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Shuvee Handicap at Saratoga. One mare conspicuous by her absence was Forever Unbridled, the multiple Grade 1-winning mare who is sitting this one out to await the Grade 1 Personal Ensign here on Aug. 26.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – World Approval is a four-time graded stakes winner going a route of ground, but for his next trick, the 5-year-old gray will attempt to win a Grade 1 stakes going a mile. World Approval is being pointed to the $500,000 Fourstardave at Saratoga on Aug. 12 in what will be his first race at one mile since November 2014, when he ran third in a maiden race on the dirt at Aqueduct.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Add Tom’s d’Etat to the list of potential contenders for the Grade 1 Woodward on Sept. 2 following his nine-length allowance win over a “good” track on Thursday. The victory was the fourth in the last five starts for the steadily improving son of Smart Strike, and it earned him a career-best 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

The Oaklawn Racing Club has been formed to give fans an opportunity at Thoroughbred ownership, the Hot Springs, Ark., track announced Friday. There will be up to 200 shares available at $500 each in a horse that will be purchased privately and trained by Ron Moquett.

The plan is to purchase an unraced 2-year-old who would launch his career this fall, then be based this winter and spring at Oaklawn, which opens Jan. 12.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Many people will argue that Mind Your Biscuits is the fastest horse in the world. In fact, he’s so fast that he even makes the work tab when he’s just galloping.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Kyle Frey, the champion apprentice jockey of 2011, will be sidelined until the fall after undergoing surgery last Tuesday to remove a rod and screws that had caused infection to a leg, according to his agent, Mark North.

Frey, who last rode at Del Mar on July 23, complained of pain, and an MRI revealed the infection.

“When they did the MRI, where the screws were, there was infection all around there,” North said on Friday. “They removed the rod and cleaned up an abscess.”

Frey underwent leg surgery in 2012 following a spill in Pennsylvania.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The two-time stakes winner S Y Sky is out until the winter with an undisclosed injury.

S Y Sky was recently sent from Del Mar to owner and breeder Nick Alexander’s farm in central California, trainer Phil D’Amato said. D’Amato said S Y Sky had developed “a little issue” that will keep her out of training until the Santa Anita winter meeting.

“She needs a little R and R,” he said.