Ruler On Ice, winner of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) last spring, drilled a swift half-mile in :47 flat at Palm Meadows Training Center Jan. 21 for trainer Kelly Breen as he gets near his 2012 season debut in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) Feb. 11.
The move was the fastest of 55 horses timed at the distance. Lori and George Hall’s 4-year-old son of Roman Ruler finished third behind Drosselmeyer and Game On Dude in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5. Though he tailed off to finish fifth in the Clark Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill three weeks later, Ruler On Ice is expected to be among the top handicap horses in the nation in 2012.
Ruler On Ice was prominent on a busy morning work tab at Palm Meadows for high-profile stakes runners preparing for important engagements. Stronach Stable’s undefeated 4-year-old filly Awesome Feather was timed five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 for trainer Chad Brown as she prepares for the $300,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Distaff Jan. 28.
Other notable workers at Palm Meadows included Adios Charlie (1:00 3/5 for Sunshine Millions Classic), Consortium (1:01 1/5 for grade III Holy Bull Stakes Jan. 29), Casual Trick (:47 1/5), It's Tricky (:50 3/5), and Souper Speedy ("39 4/5).
Leading the morning tab at Gulfstream Park was Peachtree Stable’s 3-year-old filly Sacristy going five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 for trainer Wayne Catalano in preparation for the $200,000 Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 29; and Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) runner-up Force Freeze, who posted a bullet five furlongs in :59 2/5 for trainer Peter Walder.
2011 Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice
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