George and Lori Hall’s PANTS ON FIRE (Jump Start), who finished second by a
head in Fair Grounds’ Lecomte S. (G3) on January 22 behind Wilkinson (Lemon Drop
Kid) after having a one-length lead at the eighth-pole, breezed five furlongs in
1:01 at South Florida’s Palm Meadows Training Center Saturday morning and may be
making a return trip to New Orleans for the Risen Star S. (G2) on February 19.
“The work was good,” trainer Kelly Breen remarked later in the day while
speaking over the phone from South Florida. “It went well. I might possibly give
him one more work next week before I decide for sure what we’re going to do, but
I liked his race over that (Fair Grounds) track last time. He really tried.”
In his previous trip to the post, Pants On Fire ran third in Aqueduct’s Count
Fleet S. on New Year’s Day, and then breezed a half-mile over the Belmont
training track in :49 before coming to the Crescent City.
Breen also trains the Halls’ SWEET DUCKY (Pulpit), who finished second to
Dialed In (Mineshaft) in Gulfstream’s Holy Bull S. (G3) on January 30, as well
as RULER ON ICE (Roman Ruler), who ran second in the 3RD race at Aqueduct Friday
in his first start since last October. Ruler On Ice, also owned by the Halls,
was beaten less than a length in that first-level allowance.
“I was in New York for that race but I’m back at Palm Meadows now,” Breen
said. “I will be getting together with the owners in the next few days and make
more definite plans for all three horses. Right now, we’re keeping our options
open.”