Ruler on Ice (USA)
April 2, 2008 – Living
Roman Ruler (USA) x Champagne Glow (USA), by Saratoga Six (USA)
Family 14-a
April 2, 2008 – Living
Roman Ruler (USA) x Champagne Glow (USA), by Saratoga Six (USA)
Family 14-a
As the 2011 Belmont Stakes attracted Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (USA-G1) winner Animal Kingdom, Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Shackleford, and graded stakes winner and Kentucky Derby third Mucho Macho Man, along with all four of the other top seven finishers from the Derby, the field could not be characterized as substandard. Nonetheless, most people looked at Ruler on Ice’s victory as a fluke, aided by a muddy track, Shackleford’s distance limitations, and a hind leg injury suffered by Animal Kingdom during a tangle at the break that also negatively impacted Mucho Macho Man. The gelding placed in four more graded stakes in 2011 including the Haskell Invitational (USA-G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1), but his only career win following the Belmont was in an optional allowance/claiming race in 2013.
Race record
23 starts, 4 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,709,566
2011:
2013:
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds on the 2011 World's Best Racehorse Rankings for his performances in the Belmont Stakes, Pennsylvania Derby, and Breeders' Cup Classic, 16 pounds below overall highweight Frankel and 2 pounds below the top-rated 3-year-old male on dirt, Caleb's Posse, who earned his rating in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (USA-G1).
As an individual
A temperamental chestnut gelding with a lot of energy and the bad habit of kicking his stall walls, Ruler on Ice showed a distinct liking for off going. He had a history of mental immaturity and lack of focus as a racehorse and ran with blinkers in the Belmont for that reason. He was not a good shipper. He had a history of minor leg issues that eventually led to his retirement.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Ruler on Ice was bred by Brandywine Farm and Liberation Farm. He is owned by George and Lori Hall, who purchased Ruler on Ice for US$100,000 from the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale. The gelding was trained by Kelly Breen and was ridden to his Belmont Stakes victory by Jose Valdivia Jr. Ruler on Ice was retired from racing after one unplaced start at age 6 and is a pensioner at his owners’ Kentucky farm.
Pedigree notes
Ruler on Ice is inbred 4x6x5 to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native and 5x5 to the great international sire Northern Dancer. He is a half brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Champagne d’Oro (by Medaglia d’Oro).
Ruler on Ice is out of 1990 Schuylerville Stakes (USA-G2) winner and Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) runner-up Champagne Glow, a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Grand Canyon (by Fappiano), 1988 Premio Vittorio di Capua (ITY-G1) winner Jurado (by Alleged), and listed stakes winner Track Dancer (by Green Dancer). Sired by 1984 Del Mar Futurity (USA-G1) winner Saratoga Six (by Alydar), Champange Glow is out of 1980 Boiling Springs Stakes (USA-G3) winner Champagne Ginny (by L’Enjoleur), a half sister to stakes winner Seminole Slewpy (by Slewpy); to Black Plaits (by Norcliffe), dam of South African Group 3 winner Golden Braids (by Golden Thatch) and, through her, second dam of South African Group 3 winner Golden Shina; and to Silver Hiawatha (by Silver Buck), dam of stakes winner and multiple listed stakes producer Cherish Destiny (by Grand Slam).
Champagne Ginny and her siblings, in turn, are out of the stakes-winning Chieftain mare Seminole Girl, whose half sister United Scholar (by Scholar Gypsy) is the dam of Grade 2 winner Chietfan’s Command (by Turn and Count; dam of multiple listed stakes winner Barbara’s Nemesis, by Sovereign Dancer). The next mare in Ruler on Ice’s tail-female line is the Olympia mare Unified, a daughter of the winning Bimelech mare Tulifiny.
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Ruler on Ice’s victory in the 2011 Belmont Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AarU-we0FZQ.
Fun facts
Last updated: October 21, 2021
Race record
23 starts, 4 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,709,566
2011:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Pennsylvania Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Parx Racing)
- 2nd Federico Tesio Stakes (USA, Pimlico)
- 3rd Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Haskell Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd Sunland Derby (USA-G3, 9FD, Sunland)
2013:
- 2nd Majestic Light Stakes (USA-L, 8f+70yD, Monmouth)
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds on the 2011 World's Best Racehorse Rankings for his performances in the Belmont Stakes, Pennsylvania Derby, and Breeders' Cup Classic, 16 pounds below overall highweight Frankel and 2 pounds below the top-rated 3-year-old male on dirt, Caleb's Posse, who earned his rating in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (USA-G1).
As an individual
A temperamental chestnut gelding with a lot of energy and the bad habit of kicking his stall walls, Ruler on Ice showed a distinct liking for off going. He had a history of mental immaturity and lack of focus as a racehorse and ran with blinkers in the Belmont for that reason. He was not a good shipper. He had a history of minor leg issues that eventually led to his retirement.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Ruler on Ice was bred by Brandywine Farm and Liberation Farm. He is owned by George and Lori Hall, who purchased Ruler on Ice for US$100,000 from the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale. The gelding was trained by Kelly Breen and was ridden to his Belmont Stakes victory by Jose Valdivia Jr. Ruler on Ice was retired from racing after one unplaced start at age 6 and is a pensioner at his owners’ Kentucky farm.
Pedigree notes
Ruler on Ice is inbred 4x6x5 to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native and 5x5 to the great international sire Northern Dancer. He is a half brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Champagne d’Oro (by Medaglia d’Oro).
Ruler on Ice is out of 1990 Schuylerville Stakes (USA-G2) winner and Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) runner-up Champagne Glow, a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Grand Canyon (by Fappiano), 1988 Premio Vittorio di Capua (ITY-G1) winner Jurado (by Alleged), and listed stakes winner Track Dancer (by Green Dancer). Sired by 1984 Del Mar Futurity (USA-G1) winner Saratoga Six (by Alydar), Champange Glow is out of 1980 Boiling Springs Stakes (USA-G3) winner Champagne Ginny (by L’Enjoleur), a half sister to stakes winner Seminole Slewpy (by Slewpy); to Black Plaits (by Norcliffe), dam of South African Group 3 winner Golden Braids (by Golden Thatch) and, through her, second dam of South African Group 3 winner Golden Shina; and to Silver Hiawatha (by Silver Buck), dam of stakes winner and multiple listed stakes producer Cherish Destiny (by Grand Slam).
Champagne Ginny and her siblings, in turn, are out of the stakes-winning Chieftain mare Seminole Girl, whose half sister United Scholar (by Scholar Gypsy) is the dam of Grade 2 winner Chietfan’s Command (by Turn and Count; dam of multiple listed stakes winner Barbara’s Nemesis, by Sovereign Dancer). The next mare in Ruler on Ice’s tail-female line is the Olympia mare Unified, a daughter of the winning Bimelech mare Tulifiny.
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Ruler on Ice’s victory in the 2011 Belmont Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AarU-we0FZQ.
Fun facts
- Ruler on Ice was named in honor of the Halls’ son George, a youth ice hockey player.
- Ruler on Ice was only the second gelding to win the Belmont Stakes, following Creme Fraiche in 1985.
- Ruler on Ice’s Belmont victory repaid the faith in him shown by jockey Jose Valdivia Jr., who started working the gelding during the winter of 2010-2011 and liked him so much that he told trainer Kelly Breen he was willing to “freeze his butt off every morning” to continue working him.
- Ruler on Ice’s temperament and immaturity were such that Breen commented, “We used the blinders because he wouldn’t grow up. He’s already a gelding so we can’t castrate him again.”
Last updated: October 21, 2021