'Fire' and 'Ice' Gear Up for Haskell, Shackleford in Town

Shortly before the fifth race Sunday, racing fans got a Haskell preview when local trainer Kelly Breen worked his winning duo of Ruler On Ice and Pants On Fire over four furlongs, with Pants On Fire winning by a nose at 47.3 seconds.

“Absolutely perfect,” Breen said in a release from the Monmouth Park press department. “I wanted them to go just under 48 seconds. 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.”

The , which runs a mile and an eighth in the dirt, is the biggest race of the season for Monmouth Park, and has produced five year-end champions and a pair of Horse of the Year winners over the past four runnings:  Curlin, Big Brown, Rachel Alexandra, Summer Bird and Lookin at Lucky.

on June 11, and Pants On Fire won the Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth. Neither horse has competed since their respective wins.

Dubbed 'Fire' and 'Ice,' the horses began their exercise Sunday at the half-mile pole with Pants on Fire on the rail and Ruler On Ice to his outside. The horses were neck and neck all the way to a photo finish which determined Pants On Fire the winner. A great roar shook the seats of the grandstand and clubhouse as the local duo returned from their exercise.

“We’re the hometown team,” Breen said.  “It’s nice to have so many people rooting for them.”

Both horses are owned by George and Lori Hall, of Rumson, .

Shackleford Arrives

Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford and trainer Dale Romans are expected to arrive at Monmouth early this evening. Shackleford will be stabled with trainer Kieran McLaughlin's horses and walk to the gate on Sunday.

“He really seems to have held his flesh very well following the Triple Crown,” Romans said in a release. “He’s been training great recently and everything is a go for the Haskell.”

Shackleford ran five furlongs (5/8 mile) in a quick 58.53 seconds in a Sunday morning workout at Churchill Downs in Kentucky.