Ruler On Ice Out; Concealed Identity Likely In
RULER ON ICE – George and Lori Hall’s Ruler On Ice isn’t likely to run in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, trainer Kelly Breen said Monday morning. “He’s fine. I haven’t talked to the owners yet, but I don’t believe we’re going to make the Preakness. I’ll talk to them later today and try to see what’s best for the horse. It’s a long year. We might think about the Belmont, but I’m not sure,” Breen said. “He came out of that last race with low blood, and we’re just trying to get him pumped up right now.” Ruler On Ice finished second as the 3-2 favorite in the Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico on May 7.
CONCEALED IDENTITY – The Federico Tesio Stakes winner is “80-20” to run in Saturday’s Preakness, said Linda Gaudet, who owns the son of 2004 Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones in partnership with Morris Bailey.
With the defection of Ruler On Ice Monday morning, the Bowie Training Center-based Concealed Identity moved into the prospective Preakness field, which is limited to 14 horses.
“We’re very realistic. We’re shooting for the stars, but other than the horses from the Derby – the 1-2-3-4 finishers that are coming – we’re on the same page with the other horses,” said Gaudet, the wife of trainer Eddie Gaudet. “The horse has run very well at Pimlico and has done everything we’ve asked.”
Concealed Identity, who won the Maryland Juvenile Championship last year, was winless in three starts this year before being sent around two turns at Pimlico on April 15, when he won an entry-level allowance by more than three lengths. The Maryland-bred gelding came right back on May 7 to score a two-length victory over favored Ruler On Ice in the Tesio.
“We don’t have to ship. The horse has run well at Pimlico, so that’s always been an advantage,” Gaudet said. “Eddie hasn’t had a horse in the Preakness before and they don’t come along very often. Is he a superstar? Probably not, but he’s a nice little horse. It’s an opportunity we might take advantage of. It’s home; it’s close; he’s good; we’re all a little excited.” Sheldon Russell will retain the mount, said Gaudet.
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