Following his stunning upset
in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, Ruler On Ice was back at his Monmouth Park base in
perfect shape, according to his trainer Kelly John Breen.
“It’s like he never even
ran,” said Breen, a 42-year-old resident of Farmingdale, N.J. “It’s amazing how good he’s doing. He just ran a mile and a half like it was
nothing.”
Ruler On Ice, a 3-year-old
gelding by 2005 Haskell winner Roman Ruler, sat just off the speed of Preakness
winner Shackleford in the Belmont Stakes.
Turning for home, Ruler On Ice moved into contention before asserting
himself in the final yards to pull away for the Belmont victory, good for a $51.50 win mutuel.
“It hard to describe winning
the Belmont,” said Breen, sporting a Ruler On Ice cap. “I did lose my voice, but it was well worth
it.”
Rumson residents George and
Lori Hall purchased Ruler On Ice as a yearling for $100,000 out of the
Keeneland September sales. The Halls,
who have a barn full of horses under Breen’s care, enjoyed their first Classic
victory when Ruler On Ice took the Belmont.
“You could see after the race
he wanted to do another victory lap,” said George Hall after his horse’s
Belmont win. “I think he's a much better
horse than the odds showed, and he proved it today.”
As for where Ruler On Ice
heads next, “Not sure yet,” Breen said.
“The Haskell is certainly a possibility.”
The Grade 1, $1,000,000
Haskell Invitational is the signature event of the Monmouth Park season. The mile and an eighth contest will be
renewed on Sunday, July 31. Over the
past four years, the Haskell has produced the year-end champion 3-year-old,
including a pair of Horse of the Year winners:
Curlin and Rachel Alexandra.