Haskell duo 'Fire and Ice' match strides; Shackleford fires bullet

Haskell duo 'Fire and Ice' match strides; Shackleford fires

bullet

"Fire" and "Ice" began their works at the half-mile pole, with Pants on Fire

breaking away first on the rail and Ruler on Ice quickly glued to his outside.

The duo stepped the first quarter in :23 3/5 and hit the wire in :47 3/5, both

traveling easily as their respective riders sat chilly. A photo revealed Pants

on Fire a nose in front at the finish line.

"Absolutely perfect," Breen said. "I wanted them to go just under :48.

They're both coming off wins and I just want to keep them sharp. They looked

good coming back; both had lots of energy. They'll gallop up to the race now,

just take it easy."

Fire and Ice were welcomed back from their exercise by a thunderous applause

from the crowd.

"We're the hometown team," Breen said. "It's nice to have so many people

rooting for them."

Fire and Ice seemed to impress their pilots.

"He went great," Valdivia said of Ruler on Ice. "Ready to rock and roll."

Trujillo was equally pleased with Pants on Fire's performance.

"He went really well," Trujillo said. "Nice and easy.  Looks like he's

ready to go."

Ruler on Ice has not raced since his Belmont upset on June 11. Pants on Fire,

who bled when finishing ninth in the Kentucky Derby (G1), will enter the 1

1/8-mile Haskell off a victory in the Pegasus S. (G3) here on June 18.

Beneath the Twin Spires, Preakness S. (G1) hero Shackleford signaled his

readiness by traveling five furlongs in a bullet :59 1/5. The Dale Romans charge

boasted by far the fastest of 20 works at the distance on the fast main track.

The second-best clocking was 1:01, turned in by his stablemate C. S. Silk (Medaglia

d'Oro), who exits an impressive score in the Just a Game S. (G1).

Just caught on the wire in the Florida Derby (G1), Shackleford competed in

all three legs of the Triple Crown. He gamely held fourth in the Run for the

Roses, staved off Derby winner Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) in the

Preakness, and wound up fifth in the Belmont going 1 1/2 miles in the slop.

Plans call for Shackleford to van from Louisville, Kentucky, to the Jersey

Shore on Tuesday morning.

Others expected for next Sunday's Haskell include Preakness third ASTROLOGY (A.P.

Indy), COIL (Point Given), CONCEALED IDENTITY (Smarty Jones) and J J'S LUCKY

TRAIN (Silver Train).