Two years after winning the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), George and Lori Hall's Ruler On Ice will again travel the full circuit of the Belmont Park main track oval June 7 when he starts in the 1 1/2-mile Brooklyn Handicap (gr. II).
On the day before this year's Belmont Stakes, Ruler On Ice will try to secure his first stakes win since the 2011 Belmont when he faces an expected seven other handicap horses in the $200,000 Brooklyn, including last year's Breeders' Cup Marathon (gr. II) winner Calidoscopio and 2011 Brooklyn winner Birdrun .
While Ruler On Ice is still looking for that second career stakes win, the 5-year-old Roman Ruler gelding has placed in two other grade I stakes, finishing third in the 2011 Haskell Invitational Stakes against his age group and third against older horses in that year's Breeders' Cup Classic. Trainer Kelly Breen will saddle Ruler On Ice, who enters off a runner-up finish in the Majestic Light Stakes May 25 at Monmouth Park and will try 1 1/2 miles for the first time since his Belmont victory.
Awaiting the classic winner will be Calidoscopio, a group I winner in his native Argentina who rolled to a 4 1/4-length victory in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Marathon at Santa Anita Park. In his lone start this year, Stud Dona Pancha's Calidoscopio finished off the board in the 1 1/2-mile Tokyo City Cup Stakes (gr. III) March 23 at Santa Anita.
A 10-year-old son of Luhuk, Calidoscopio will carry high weight of 122 pounds in the Brooklyn.
Although Birdrun finished more than 13 lengths behind Percussion when third in the 1 1/8-mile Albert the Great Stakes May 12 at Belmont, trainer Bill Mott hopes stretching back out to 1 1/2 miles helps the 7-year-old Birdstone horse. The Albert the Great winner, Percussion, and runner-up, Fast Falcon, also have been entered in the Brooklyn.
$200,000 Brooklyn Handicap (gr. II, race 10, approximate post time 5:45 p.m.) 3YO&Up, 1 1/2 miles
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Birdrun (FL), J. Alvarado, 117, W. Mott
2. Keep Me Informed (KY), R. Maragh, 115, J. Toscano Jr.
3. Quick Casablanca (CHI), J. Rosario, 120, C. Clement
4. Calidoscopio, A. Gryder, 122, M. Puype
5. Percussion (KY), J. Velazquez, 119, T. Pletcher
6. Fast Falcon (KY), J. Lezcano, 119, N. Zito
7. Flashy Sunrise (KY), L. Saez, 115, D. Stewart
8. Ruler On Ice (KY), I. Ortiz Jr., 118, K. Breen