Recovered Palace Malice Returns to Training
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Winner of the Metropolitan Mile (gr. I) and three other graded stakes in 2014, classic victor Palace Malice is ready to go back in training immediately, according to a Nov. 14 release from co-owners Dogwood Stable and Three Chimneys Farm.
After an extensive veterinary examination declared him to be sound and fully recovered from a bone bruise suffered during his unplaced run in the Whitney Stakes (gr. I), the 4-year-old son of Curlin shipped to Aiken, S.C., Nov. 14 to begin pre-training before returning to the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher.
"The x-rays and ultrasounds taken in Kentucky on Thursday morning are as good as we hoped they would be, and Dr. Larry Bramlage and Dr. Robert Copelan pronounced him completely sound," Dogwood president Cot Campbell said. "Therefore, he shipped Friday morning from Three Chimneys to Aiken for 60-90 days of pre-training, and then we will send him down to Todd Pletcher in Florida. His 2015 schedule will be formulated by Three Chimneys, Dogwood, and Todd, and we will announce that at a later date."
Three Chimneys bought a half interest in Palace Malice from Dogwood in September. Upon his retirement from racing, Three Chimneys will acquire full ownership of the colt. Next year, he will race in the name of Three Chimneys Farm/Dogwood Stable.
Said Three Chimneys chairman Gonçalo Torrealba: "Three Chimneys bought into Palace Malice based on his race record, his looks, and his pedigree. We are excited at the opportunity to race the horse with Dogwood Stable. Having missed the Breeders' Cup this year, we look forward to a campaign in 2015 that has the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) as our ultimate goal."
Palace Malice is the leading earner for two-time Horse of the Year Curlin , with a bankroll of $2,676,235. Included in his seven wins is the rare combination of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and Metropolitan Mile. In the latter, he defeated 2013 and 2014 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I) winner Goldencents .
In three years Palace Malice has started 17 times, with his victories also including a trio of grade II events—the Jim Dandy Stakes, Gulfstream Park Handicap, and the New Orleans Handicap—and the grade III Westchester Stakes.