Ruler On Ice targets Donn Handicap

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hallandale Beach, FL (Sports Network) - Breeders' Cup Classic third-place finisher Ruler On Ice is on target to begin his 2012 racing campaign in next month's 1 1/8-mile Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park. The four-year-old has been training at nearby Palm Meadows Training Center.

"He loves it at Palm Meadows," noted Kelly Breen who trains the 2011 Belmont Stakes champ. "You won't see a work on him this weekend, probably just a two- minute lick, and then a final workout on Super Bowl morning. We're looking for a good transition from his three to four-year-old (season)."

Owned by Lori and George Hall, the gelding proved to be one of the top three- year-olds last year. Along with his Belmont Stakes win and Classic finish, Ruler On Ice was third in the Sunland Derby, second in the Federico Tesio, third in the Haskell, fourth in the Travers and runner-up in the Pennsylvania Derby.

He wrapped up his 2011 season with an unfortunate fifth in the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.

"He came out of his last race with a little lung infection that took awhile to clean out, but he's doing great now," said Breen Thursday afternoon. "When he was down here in Florida last winter he just wasn't right, but he couldn't be doing any better now."

Ruler On Ice has banked more than $1.6 million for the Halls with three wins and equal numbers of second and thirds in 12 career starts.

Giant Oak won last year's Donn Handicap after winning the Clark Handicap.