Breen prepares Pants On Fire for return

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hallandale Beach, FL (Sports Network) - Saturday marks a big day for trainer Kelly Breen with the return of his 2011 Belmont Stakes champion Ruler On Ice. The four-year-old gelding is one of the favorites for the $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

Earlier on the card, however, Breen's other highly respected four-year-old Pants On Fire is also expected to make his return to the races. The colt is listed to start in an allowance race on Gulfstream's turf course.

"We're going to take it race by race right now," said Breen, "He's ready to run, now. We're looking at an allowance race on the grass this weekend at Gulfstream (for his turf debut), but it's supposed to rain this weekend and that race may come off. I can't say for sure right now if we'll run him if it stays on the grass, but we'll see what happens this weekend and make our other plans after that."

Owned by George and Lori Hall, Pants On Fire is to be ridden by Rosie Napravnik who guided the colt to victory in last year's Louisiana Derby. The pair also combined to win the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park last June. The colt and rider finished ninth in the Kentucky Derby.

"Last year the Louisiana Derby was my first million dollar win and it was also Kelly's first million dollar win," Napravnik said.

Pants On Fire closed his 2011 season on July 31 with a fifth-place finish in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth behind Coil, Shackleford and stablemate Ruler On Ice.

In 11 career starts Breen's charge has earned $828,100 with three wins and as many seconds.