He is a chestnut gelding sired by Hill 'n' Dale Farms' Roman Ruler out of the Saratoga Six-bred mare, Champagne Glow.

[1] The colt was consigned as lot 988 at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling auction,[2] where he was purchased by George and Lori Hall for $100,000.

[4] In his next start, a six-furlong maiden race at Delaware Park on October 4, 2010, he won by a head over four other horses and collected $22,800.

He was a 24–1 longshot to the favorites, Animal Kingdom and Irish colt Master of Hounds, and he was wearing blinkers for the first time.

[10] On July 31, 2011, Ruler on Ice finished third in the Haskell Invitational to Coil and Shackleford by two and a half lengths.

[14] Ruler on Ice finished eighth out of eleven horses in the Donn Handicap run at Gulfstream Park on February 11.

[16] On January 30, Ruler on Ice won an optional claiming race at Aqueduct Racetrack, his first since the Belmont.

Roman Ruler was sired by 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus out of the unraced mare Silvery Swan by Silver Deputy.