Ruler On Ice, other Clark hopefuls take a spin under the Twin Spires

Ruler On Ice will have a claim on Eclipse honors if he adds the Clark to his Belmont Stakes victory (Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos)

Belmont Stakes hero Ruler On Ice has joined the roster
of horses who will compete in the 137th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Clark
Handicap on November 25 at Churchill
Downs.

The Roman Ruler gelding breezed five furlongs on Friday in :48 3/5 for trainer Kelly
Breen over the fast main track at Churchill Downs in preparation for the 1
1/8-mile contest. It was his first
breeze since the Classic and his only major training move prior to the Clark.

Starting two lengths behind stablemate Nacho Friend, who was clocked in :59, and finishing even with
his workmate at the wire, Ruler On Ice recorded
fractions of :24 3/5 and :36 3/5 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:02. The
four-furlong time was the 12th fastest of 47 at the distance.

“It was excellent,” Breen said. “It was a textbook work and he seems to
really like this track.”

George and Lori Hall’s chestnut runner will be entered in the Clark off a third-place finish
behind Drosselmeyer and Game On Dude in the Breeders’ Cup Classic
at on November 5 under the Twin Spires. It was the first start against older horses
for the sophomore.

General Quarters defeated this year’s BC Mile winner Court Vision when taking his last win in the 2010 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (J.B. Faulconer/EquiSport Photos)

Breen said Ruler On Ice came out of his Classic run in great condition, and
the gelding’s well-being and the uncertain nature of this year’s Eclipse Awards
races were the major factors in the decision to run in the Clark.

“We’re thinking that if he wins this race then he is in the running for
champion three-year-old,” Breen said. “That would give us two Grade 1 wins and he
would be beating older horses (in the Clark).”

Other horses working at Churchill Downs on Friday morning included Clark
Handicap candidates General Quarters and Equestrio.

Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters, a dual Grade 1 scorer with more than $1.2
million in earnings, turned five furlongs in 1:01 4/5.
He covered the distance in fractional splits of :12 3/5, :25 and :37 1/5 while
galloping
out six furlongs in 1:15 2/5. The five-year-old son of Sky Mesa posted the 11th fastest
move of 41 at the
distance.