Palace Malice to Target Breeders' Cup Classic

Co-owners Dogwood Stable and Three Chimneys released a plan Dec. 3 to have Palace Malice   target five races in 2015, culminating with a run in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Keeneland.

According to a statement from Cot Campbell, speaking for the co-owners, the outlined campaign would start with the Westchester Stakes (gr. III) in May at Belmont Park and culminate with the Classic.

The winner of the 2014 Metropolitan Mile (gr. I) saw his campaign aborted mid-summer this year with a bruised cannon bone. Despite initial plans to retire Palace Malice, it was announced in November that he would race in 2015. He rehabbed at Three Chimneys this fall and currently is in full training at Dogwood's Aiken, S.C., facility.

"The logic of the five-race campaign was easily determined by Three Chimneys, Dogwood, and Todd Pletcher. The Westchester is the ideal Belmont prep for an appearance in the Metropolitan Mile, in which he defeated Goldencents  , two-time grade I Breeders' Cup Mile winner (this year)," Campbell said in a release. "We would follow with three grade I stakes: the Whitney, early at Saratoga, the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont in the fall, and the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland."

"The 4-year-old son of Curlin   out of Palace Rumor is galloping now in Aiken and will train there until early January when he goes to Palm Beach Downs and Todd Pletcher. It will be hard for Todd to hold him until May, but we do want to concentrate on the big races during the latter part of the year."

Palace Malice, winner of the 2013 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and a total of six graded stakes, has career earnings of $2,676,135.