Ruler On Ice, winner of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) last year, could resurface Feb. 11 in the $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
The 4-year-old Roman Ruler colt owned by George and Lori Hall has been with trainer Kelly Breen at Palm Meadows Training Center. Ruler On Ice last raced Nov. 25, 2011, when he finished fifth in the Clark Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.
Breen told Gulfstream officials the colt is on target for a return in the Donn, which is run at 1 1/8 miles and is the first major race for the older horse division each year.
“He came out of (the Clark) with a little lung infection that took awhile to clean out, but he’s doing great now,” Breen said Jan. 26. “When he was down here in Florida last winter he just wasn’t right, but he couldn’t be doing any better now.
“He loves it at Palm Meadows. We’re looking for a good transition from his 3- to 4-year-old (season).”
Breen said Ruler On Ice, who finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) last fall, would “two-minute lick” the weekend of Jan. 28, then work Feb. 5.