One Last Stand for Palace Malice
It’s no secret to regular readers of these pages that I have been a longtime fan of Palace Malice. And why not? I’ve been lucky enough to see him in person many times, including symmetrical victories in a maiden race at Saratoga at two, the Belmont Stakes at three, and the Met Mile at four. Clearly, it’s been a good career run for the son of Curlin, and when a deal was struck between Cot Campbell and Three Chimneys Farm to allow Palace Malice to come back and run as a five-year-old, I was pretty happy. I saw it not only as a chance to redeem himself for his only loss at four, when he finished sixth in the Whitney, but also an opportunity for the May foal to show what he could do at full maturity. It seemed destined to be a big year, but with only one start so far at five, a third-place finish in a listed sprint stakes at Belmont in May, the winner of nearly $2.7 million has fallen well short of hitting his best stride in his final year of racing. The clock is ticking quickly towards stud duty, but happily, it has not struck midnight just yet.
Making only his second workout of the summer, Palace Malice got in a good four furlongs this morning over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga in :49.45. After nagging health issues, he’s not quite ready to make his second start of 2015, but with today’s move, he is definitely getting closer. A news release today on the Dogwood Stables website explained his inactivity, but more importantly injected a strong dose of optimism to all us Palace Malice junkies.
On several occasions during the spring, minor problems have cost us significant training days with Palace Malice. Thus, we've had to alter his racing schedule in an undesirable way. But he is now on a weekly breezing program and we're pleased with the outlook.
As the only horse to win both the 12-furlong Belmont and the one-mile Met Mile in a long time, and a well bred one at that, Palace Malice is worth a fair amount as a stallion, so further racing needs not be a priority. So when I hear that they are, “pleased with the outlook,” it makes me think that they still have strong confidence that this is a horse that has more racing in him before the racing season is over.
We have a number of big races on his dance card. However, we're going to let him tell us what his next race will be at Saratoga. We do plan on two appearances at that track, but must remain uncommitted at this time.
“We do plan on two appearances at that track [Saratoga].” Wow, I’m not confident that trainer Todd Pletcher is thinking the same thing, but for Dogwood (Campbell) to be thinking about more than one race at Saratoga, they must believe he is really close -- perhaps an allowance prep as a return and then right back into the big time in the Grade 1 Woodward in early September. This is clearly an announcement written with plenty of sincere belief in his return, and at a high level.
The main thing is he's doing well and we're optimistic about a good summer and fall.
Yes, the main thing is that he is doing well, but again, by mentioning summer, as well, as fall, they must believe that his return is going to happen sooner than later. This all makes me dream big for one of my favorites. Two races before the summer is over would give him plenty of time to be ready for a certain big race this fall at Keeneland. With Palace Malice, I have learned to dream big, and after all -- someone has to give American Pharoah some competition, right?