Ruler on Ice, Pants on Fire post Haskell drills

Trainer Kelly John Breen confirmed Sunday that Belmont S. (G1)

upsetter RULER ON

ICE (Roman Ruler) and Grade 2 hero PANTS ON FIRE (Jump Start) will make

their next starts in the $1 million Haskell Invitational (G1) at

Monmouth Park on July 31.

"Fire" and "Ice," as they're known, stepped on the Monmouth track

just after 7:30 a.m. (EDT) Sunday morning, with Pants on Fire working

four furlongs in :49 4/5 in company with stablemate Tripendicular

(Tiznow). Shortly thereafter, classic scorer Ruler on

Ice was caught in 1:02 3/5 for five furlongs over the fast main track

while working in company with Valley Stream (Gone West).

"They both went perfectly," said Breen, the 42-year-old resident of

Farmingdale, New Jersey. "Nice, easy works this morning -- just what we

were looking for."

Owned by George and Lori Hall of Rumson, New Jersey, Fire and Ice

will enter the Haskell off victories -- Ruler on Ice captured the

Belmont on June 11 while Pants on Fire took the Pegasus S. (G3) at

Monmouth on June 18.

With Pants on Fire's regular pilot Rosie Napravnik on the sidelines

with an injury, Breen has found himself a new rider and one that is no

stranger to the Monmouth Park winner's circle.

Combined, Fire and Ice will be the second and third Haskell starters

for Breen, who in 2006 finished second with Praying for Cash.

In addition to the Breen-duo, the Haskell is expected to draw

Preakness S. (G1) winner SHACKLEFORD (Forestry), Long Branch S. scorer

RATTLESNAKE BRIDGE (Tapit), Grade 3 hero ASTROLOGY (A.P. Indy), Grade 3

star J J'S LUCKY TRAIN (Silver Train), Federico Tesio S. king CONCEALED

IDENTITY (Smarty Jones) and either Affirmed H. (G3) winner COIL (Point

Given) or Iowa Derby (G3) conqueror PRAYER FOR RELIEF (Jump Start).

The Haskell 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.

As for the Fire and Ice party, the Halls are pulling out all the

stops to celebrate their horses running in North America's richest

invitational horse race. Henry Sullivan, who's married to George Hall's

sister, has been placed in charge of the Fire and Ice festivities.