Aqueduct: Breen, Ruler On Ice on fire

Tom Keyser

Ruler On Ice didn’t work during the month of February, owing more to the inclement weather than any physical issues with the horse.

It’s been a pretty good week for trainer Kelly Breen.

On Tuesday, he welcomed his third child into the world as his wife Melissa gave birth to a baby boy who has been named Declan Richard.

On Friday, Breen got the report from his New York assistant that 2011 Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice burned up the Belmont training track by working five furlongs in 57.90 seconds. Ruler On Ice worked out of the gate and in company with Coco Ecolo, who was timed in 59.27 seconds for the same distance.

It was the first work for Ruler On Ice since he won a third-level allowance race at Aqueduct on Jan. 30.

Breen said Ruler On Ice didn’t work during the month of February, owing more to the inclement weather than any physical issues with the horse.

“I was being a little cautious not to do anything wrong right now,” Breen said by phone from Florida. “Maybe that’s why he had a little bit of extra energy for a fast workout today. Hopefully, next week we’ll be able to harness it a little bit better.”

Breen said the Grade 3, $150,000 Excelsior Stakes at Aqueduct on March 23 is a potential spot for Ruler On Ice’s next start.

“That’s a very good option as of right now,” Breen said. “I’ll go over it with [owners] George and Lori Hall the next couple of days and run it by them and see what they say.”