Ruler on Ice all set to go forth in the Clark Handicap with fiery ambitions
The Grade 1 Belmont Stakes winner, Ruler On Ice is all systems go for the Grade 1, $500,000 Clark Handicap to be held on 25 November, 2011, at Churchill Downs.
The 3-year-old George and Lori Hall owned gelding will go up against a solid lineup of 12 other 3-year-old and above males to fight it out at about 1 1/8 miles on dirt for the $500,000 purse money.
Apart from Ruler on Ice, the Clark Handicap has reeled in two other Breeders’ Cup Classic participants, the 5th placed Flat Out and the 12th placed son of Tapit, Headache.
Things get interesting with the inclusion of the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes winner Wise Dan, and the Bob Baffert trained Prayer for Relief who is coming off a third place finish in the Oklahoma Derby.
Trainer Kelly Breen is expecting a tough race for Ruler on Ice, who finished a couple of lengths off the Classic winner, Drosselmeyer, in third place, but the trainer would be feeling a bit lighter after Ruler on Ice’s brilliant work out session.
“I’m very happy to report that he came out of the race in good order and he’s currently in great shape,” Breen said. “He’s eating well and training well. He’s a lean, mean fighting machine.”
The gelding turned in a work of five furlongs on 18 November, 2011, at Churchill Downs over its fast main track.
The fact that Ruler on Ice came out of the Breeders’ Cup Classic run in good condition is not the only reason why Kelly Breen and George and Lori Hall are going for the Clark Handicap, it is also because of the uncertainty surrounding the Eclipse Award winner
is also a major factor for Ruler on Ice to run this race.
If the gelding goes on to see of his 3-year-old racing career on a high, than his chances to win the Eclipse Award double over night, and he will certainly than become the main contender for the prestigious award.
“We’re thinking that if he wins this race then he is in the running for champion 3-year-old,” Breen said. “That would give us two Grade I wins and he would be beating older horses (in the Clark).”
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