Gulfstream: Ruler On Ice will get extended vacation

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice will be out of action indefinitely following his eighth place-finish here at Gulfstream Park last weekend in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap.

“He’s already on the farm in Kentucky,” trainer Kelly Breen said. “He came out of the race a little banged up so we decided to give him 45 days off. He really hasn’t had a break since his 2-year-old season and he needs some R and R. It’s a long year. We’ll just point to have him back and ready to go in the fall when they run most of the bigger races for older horses.”

Ruler On Ice has now been winless in six starts since he upset the Belmont over a sloppy track last June. His best performance during that period was his third-place finish behind Drosselmeyer and Game On Dude in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Ruler On Ice was also second in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby and third in the Grade 1 Haskell.