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Ruler on Ice likely out; Concealed Identity now expected in Preakness

George and Lori Hall's RULER ON ICE (Roman Ruler) isn't likely to run in Saturday's Preakness (G1), 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 S. at Pimlico on May 7.

Concealed Identity has won two straight at Pimlico including the Tesio (Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club) If Ruler on Ice does in fact defect, Federico Tesio winner CONCEALED IDENTITY (Smarty Jones) would move into the prospective Preakness field, which is limited to 14 horses. The Bowie Training Center-based Concealed Identity 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. "We're very realistic. We're shooting for the stars, but other than the horses from the Derby -- the one-two-three-four 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 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, Gaudet added.

The waiting game continued Monday for ISN'T HE PERFECT (Pleasantly Perfect) and his New York-based trainer Doodnauth Shivmangal, whose chances of having his first Preakness runner make the field became slimmer with the likely entry of Concealed Identity.

If Concealed Identity goes, Isn't He Perfect would stand 15th on the list of Preakness hopefuls based on earnings, with the impending decision regarding Nehro (Mineshaft) deciding his fate.

"I'm thinking positive," said Shivmangal, the Guyana native who gave up training for almost 15 years before returning to the backstretch in 2009. "I'm thinking that we're going to get in."

Out of the Grade 2-winning Reciclada (Chi), Isn't He Perfect has yet to hit the board in three stakes starts this season, most recently finishing fifth in the Jerome (G2) over a sloppy track at Aqueduct on April 23.

His career earnings of $90,222 left Isn't He Perfect about $30,000 behind Concealed Identity, but if Derby runner-up Nehro does not enter, that becomes a moot point.

"He's doing really, really, really, really good," said Shivmangal Monday after his colt jogged around the Belmont Park training track.

Channing Hill has been aboard in his last two starts, but Shivmangal said he was still undecided about a rider for the Preakness.

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