Ruler on Ice has only raced once at Belmont Park and on that
day he was the upset winner of the 2011 Belmont Stakes. On Saturday, trainer
Kelly John Breen sends him back to New
York with high hopes that history will repeat itself
in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
“So far, so good. He’s one-for-one at Belmont,”
said Breen, who trains the gelded son of 2005 Haskell winner Roman Ruler at his
Monmouth Park base for owners George and Lori
Hall.
Ruler on Ice, who finished third in last year’s Breeders’
Cup Classic, is one of six grade 1 winners in a contentious field, along with
Whitney Stakes winner Fort Larned, Santa Anita Handicap and Stephen Foster
Handicap victor Ron the Greek, defending champion Flat Out, Donn Handicap
winner Hymn Book and 2011 Travers winner Stay Thirsty. San Pablo, who won the Grade 3 Philip Iselin Stakes
at Monmouth on August 18, will also be in the gate.
“It’s a very tough race. It should be. This race is the prep
for a $5 million race- the Breeders’ Cup Classic, “said Breen. “He’s training
very well.”
Ruler on Ice, third in the 2011 Grade 1 Haskell
Invitational, blazed four furlongs in :48 flat in a workout at Monmouth on
September 22 and the move was the fastest of 54 horses at the same distance.
Breen got the luck of the draw on Wednesday. Ruler on Ice will
break from post three, the identical post he drew when he won the Belmont.
“I’ve got my fingers crossed,” he said. “That’s a good
omen.”