Monmouth Park Barn Notes 06-08-18

By John Heimes —-

150TH BELMONT STAKES SIMULCAST AVAILABLE SATURDAY;
2011 WINNER RULER ON ICE RETURNS TO MONMOUTH PARK

OCEANPORT, N.J. – A horse that knows exactly what it takes to win the Belmont Stakes is back “home” at Monmouth Park just in time to witness Justify’s attempt to become the sport’s 13th Triple Crown winner in Saturday’s 150th renewal of the 1½-mile race.

Ruler On Ice, the 2011 Belmont Stakes winner, has returned to trainer Kelly Breen’s barn on the Monmouth Park backstretch to get re-acquainted with his old connections and former home.

Breen said the 10-year-old gelding was vanned from owner George Hall’s farm in Kentucky to Monmouth Park on Thursday.

“I’d love to sit on him and watch horses train. That would be awesome,” said Breen, “But he has a little too much energy for that.”

Ruler On Ice, who was also third in the 2011 Haskell Invitational, finished with a 4-5-3 line from 24 lifetime starts, with his victory in the final leg of the Triple Crown the highlight of his career.

Monmouth Park will simulcast the entire 13-race Belmont Park card on Saturday, with gates opening at 11 a.m. First race post for the stakes-filled card is 11:35 a.m., with the Belmont Stakes having a listed post time of 6:46 p.m.

Monmouth Park’s 12-race live card has a first post of 12:50 p.m.

Breen admitted this day in particular is always a memorable one for him because of Ruler On Ice, with his charge beating Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford in winning the Belmont Stakes.

“It’s nice to have him back, especially with the timing,” Breen said. “We’re just looking to have some fun and visit with him. He looks good. He might only be here on a temporary basis but George (Hall) is here for the summer and wanted to see him.”

Breen said Ruler On Ice didn’t take long to get back that race-day readiness.

“I said to my assistants `what do you think about throwing a Western saddle on him and standing up there at the track?’ I thought that would be pretty cool,” Breen said. “We gave him a bath as soon as he got here and put shoes on him and he wanted to do too much when we gave him a bath so we backed off a little. He got his racing mentality back right away just seeing the track.”

JULIE KRONE AUTOGRAPH SESSION SET FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 10

During one of the lowest points of her career, following a spill that left Julie Krone wondering if she would ever ride again – or even if she wanted to – Monmouth Park was there for her, the Hall of Fame jockey said. That’s why she considers it a homecoming when she returns on Sunday, June 10, to the racetrack that helped launch her career with an autograph session.

Krone, who won Monmouth Park riding titles from 1987-89, will sign autographs on Sunday from 1:30 to 3:30 outside the Jockey’s Room.

“When I first came back from one of the worst spills I ever had and was doubting myself and admitted I was not 100 percent or back to being myself the people at Monmouth Park accepted me and embraced me,” said Krone. “They eventually helped me get back to full health and back to my career. So Monmouth Park is dear to my heart. I still think of it as home.”

Krone, who retired from her trailblazing career in 2004, was the first woman to win a Triple Crown race, booting home Colonial Affair in the 1993 Belmont Stakes. She was also the first woman to win a Breeders’ Cup race, the first woman to win a riding title at a major track and became the first female jockey to reach 3,500 wins, doing so in 1999.

She finished her career with 3,704 wins.

“What I found out last year when I came back to Monmouth is that the fans still remember and that makes you feel good,” said Krone, who last rode at Monmouth Park in 1999.

Krone, who now calls California home, was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2000.
In 1987 she won the riding titles at Monmouth, the Meadowlands and Atlantic Cit Race Course.

48TH NEW JERSEY IRISH FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS SUNDAY’S EVENTS

The popular Irish Festival will hold its 48th renewal at Monmouth Park on Sunday, June 10, to complement a live racing card. Gates open at 10 a.m., with a traditional Irish Mass set for 11 a.m. on the paddock side of the grandstand on the second floor.

The day will include an Irish Band and Dance Competition, a Pipe and Drum Competition and a human horse race. Irish flags will be displayed and the Irish national anthem will be played at 11:55 a.m.
A variety of Irish food will be available and a beer area will be set up in the grandstand overhang and in the bus lot.