Stallwalkin' Dude Surprises Palace Malice

David Jacobson's Stallwalkin' Dude picked up his fourth consecutive victory and upset a pair of classy rivals - 2013 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice and track-record holder Clearly Now - to take the second running of the $100,000 Diablo Stakes on Sunday at Belmont Park.

"He's unbelievable," said Jacobson, who owns and trains Stallwalkin' Dude. "He's really proven himself to be a legitimate horse to be reckoned with coming into the spring and summer at Saratoga. I was expecting a much easier field, when you have Palace Malice and Clearly Now, this race really deserved a [grade] next to it."

Coming off victories in a pair of optional claimers at Belmont and Aqueduct Racetrack, Stallwalkin' Dude was sent off at odds of 9-2 under apprentice Angel Cruz. After a bobble left even-money favorite Palace Malice at the back of the pack, Stallwalkin' Dude seized control of the race, leading the field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.63 seconds, but was confronted by 2-1 second choice Clearly Now after a half in 45.61.

With Palace Malice still a few lengths in arrears and traveling wide into the stretch, Stallwalkin' Dude and Clearly Now spurted away from the field and slugged it out in the lane, never separated by more than a half-length. When the dust settled, Stallwalkin' Dude prevailed by a neck and stopped the clock in a brisk 1:09.48 for the six furlongs.

"He always responds in the end, and fights to the end and doesn't quit," said Cruz. "When I hit him left [handed] he keeps going. In his last race when I hit him left [handed] he just went on to win. This time, I switched to the left [hand] and he just kept running and fought to the end. He's always a fighter and never quits."

Stallwalkin' Dude, a $16,000 claim by Jacobson, upped his bankroll to $370,352 and returned $11.00 on a $2 win wager.

Clearly Now, who holds the track record of 1:19.96 at seven furlongs, which he set in last year's Grade 3 Belmont Sprint Championship, rebounded off a disappointing seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Carter to kick off his 2015 campaign. The 5-year-old son of Horse Greeley finished 3 ¼ lengths in front of Palace Malice, who made up ground late to be third.

"It was what we were expecting; he got out-footed early and seemed to close pretty well," said Palace Malice's trainer, Todd Pletcher. "He galloped out well, so hopefully we got what we needed out of him. We knew it wasn't ideal coming in, but the options we had were limited. Hopefully it moves him forward."

Palace Malice may make his next start on June 6 in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, a race he won last year by a length, potentially setting up a matchup between the past two winners of the Belmont Stakes. Tonalist, who won the 2014 Belmont Stakes, is likely headed to the Met Mile after winning the Grade 3 Westchester last weekend.

Doubledown Again and Piquant completed the order of finish.


Source: NYRA Communications