Palace, Private Zone Meet in Vosburgh
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By Jerry Bossert
Having already won the Forego Stakes (gr. I) and the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. I) this year, Palace could cement his status as the favorite for the Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) with a victory in the $400,000 Vosburgh Invitational (gr. I) on Sept. 27 at Belmont Park.
One of six graded stakes on Belmont's "Super Saturday" card, the Vosburgh is a "Win and You're In" event for the Breeders' Cup Sprint, granting the winning connections entry and starting fees paid along with a travel allowance.
Palace, who was claimed by trainer Linda Rice for $20,000 on Oct. 6, 2012, could turn out to be one of the best claims of all time, having won 10 of 17 starts since being taken from Bill Mott's barn. Besides his victories in the Forego and the Vanderbilt, Palace also won the True North Stakes (gr. II) this year and last year took the Fall Highweight Handicap (gr. III).
Owned by Antonino Miuccio, the 5-year-old son of City Zip was made the 2-1 favorite in the six furlong Vosburgh and will be break from the rail under jockey Cornelio Velasquez.
Private Zone, who won the Vosburgh last year for trainer Doug O'Neill, will return to Belmont to defend his title, but for trainer Alfredo Velazquez. That conditioner took over training of the 5-year-old Macho Uno gelding after Private Zone finished fourth in the Sept. 1 Turf Monster Handicap (gr. IIIT) from Parx Racing.
Private Zone was made the 7-2 third-choice on the morning-line in the field of eight. He will be ridden from post 7 by Martin Pedroza, who was aboard in last year's Vosburgh for Good Friends Stable, the partnership group that includes former jockey Rene Douglas.
Happy My Way was made the 3-1 second-choice in the Vosburgh, despite not having started since he was second by a length to Palace for trainer Joe Orseno in the Aug. 2 Vanderbilt.
Prior to that runner-up finish, Happy My Way won three starts in a row for Mel Paikoff Stables and Sagamore Farm, including a victory in the May 17 Maryland Sprint Handicap (gr. III) at Pimlico Race Course as part of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) undercard. The 4-year-old Wilko gelding will break from post 6.
Fox Hill Farms' Coup de Grace is the lone 3-year-old starting in the Vosburgh and will be getting a two-pound break in the weights, carrying 122 while his rivals all carry 124.
Mr Amore Stable's Ribo Bobo, who won 10 of 11 starts in 2013, drew the outside post and was made 20-1 on the morning line. He will be ridden by Paco Lopez.
Vosburgh S. (gr. I)
Belmont Park, Saturday, September 27, 2014, Race 8
- 6f
- Dirt
- $400,000
- 3 yo's & up
- 4:41 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Weight | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palace (NY) | Cornelio H. Velasquez | 124 | Linda Rice |
| 2 | Coup de Grace (KY) | Kerwin D. Clark | 122 | J. Larry Jones |
| 3 | Zee Bros (KY) | Joel Rosario | 124 | D. Wayne Lukas |
| 4 | Salutos Amigos (KY) | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 124 | David Jacobson |
| 5 | Dads Caps (KY) | Javier Castellano | 124 | Rudy R. Rodriguez |
| 6 | Happy My Way (FL) | Joe Bravo | 124 | Joseph F. Orseno |
| 7 | Private Zone (ON) | Martin A. Pedroza | 124 | Alfredo Velazquez |
| 8 | Ribo Bobo (FL) | Paco Lopez | 124 | Jason Servis |