Trainer Kelly Breen confirmed Oct. 12 that the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) will be the next start for Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Ruler On Ice.
The Roman Ruler gelding will continue training at his home base of Monmouth Park before shipping to Churchill Downs at the end of the month.
“He went an easy five furlongs, 1:02 flat (Oct. 8),” said Breen. “We’ll probably give him an easy weekend and then work him on the 22nd and 29th. He’ll ship out after his last work.”
Ruler On Ice’s 3-year-old campaign began with a runner-up performance in an Aqueduct allowance on Feb. 4, before taking that condition at Parx on Feb. 22. That victory led to a third-place finish in the Sunland Park Derby (gr. III) and then a runner-up effort in the Federico Tesio at Pimlico.
The breakthrough performance came on June 11, when at odds of 24-1 Ruler On Ice took the lead at the top of the stretch and held off all challengers to capture the Belmont. Since then, Ruler On Ice posted a third-place finish in the Haskell Invitational (gr. I), a fourth in the Travers (gr. I), and last out a second in the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II).
From 10 career starts, Ruler On Ice sports a record of 3-3-2 and earnings of $1,108,500. He races for George and Lori Hall.
