Palace Malice Out of Westcheter

Palace Malice, winner of the 2013 Belmont Stakes, will not run in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Westchester at Belmont Park due to a bruised right front foot, owner Cot Campbell said Thursday afternoon.

"We're distressed about it, of course, but it is not serious," said Campbell. "He did not train yesterday or today, and may not train tomorrow, and to go into a race like the Westchester without full preparation is not right. We've waited a long time to run him. The plan is to move onto the [Grade 1] Metropolitan Handicap [on June 6]."

The withdrawal of Palace Malice leaves the one-mile Westchester, the traditional prep for the Met Mile, with a field of four, headed by 2014 Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist, along with Juba, Confrontation and Souper Lucky. There will be no show wagering on the Westchester, which is scheduled as race 6 on Saturday's 12-race card.

Palace Malice had not raced since finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Whitney last August at Saratoga Race Course. Prior to that, the now 5-year-old son of Curlin won the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap, the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap, the 2014 edition of the Westchester and the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap. As a 3-year-old he won the Grade 2 Jim Dandy in addition to the Belmont.

"It's a shame, because with the exception of Tonalist, the Westchester seemed like a good place to bring him back," said Campbell. "We'll look ahead now to the Met Mile."

Source: NYRA Communications