Palace Malice Returns to Worktab in Aiken
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Multiple grade I winner Palace Malice turned in his first breeze of 2015 on Jan. 22 in Aiken, S.C., his initial recorded move since getting returning to training in mid-November after a layoff at Three Chimneys Farm.
The 5-year-old son of Curlin —owned by Dogwood Stable in partnership with Three Chimneys—clocked a quarter in :24 and galloped out three-eighths in :36 3/5 over the Aiken training track under exercise rider Gene Tucker, Dogwood president Cot Campbell reported.
"He worked great," Campbell said. "He was a trifle slow getting into the work because he was surprised he was going to. He hadn't done anything like that in five or six months and he couldn't believe the message he was getting. But it was an excellent work; he came back fine and we're going to do it again next week depending on the weather."
Palace Malice will then likely join trainer Todd Pletcher's Florida string at Palm Beach Downs. His connections have mapped out a five-race campaign in 2015 for the winner of the 2013 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), beginning with the Westchester Stakes (gr. III) at Belmont Park in May and culminating in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Keeneland. Other stops along the way are likely to include the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont, the Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) back at Belmont.
In 2014, Palace Malice won the Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II), New Orleans Handicap (gr. II), Westchester, and Met Mile before an off-the-board finish in the Whitney. His season was good enough he was named a finalist for champion older male.
Palace Malice was originally retired from racing, but after an extensive veterinary examination found him sound and fully recovered from a bone bruise suffered during his unplaced Whitney run, he rehabbed at Three Chimneys. He then shipped to Aiken to get back in condition under the supervision of Brad Stauffer and Ron Stevens before returning to the racetrack.
Three Chimneys bought a half interest in Palace Malice from Dogwood in September. Upon his retirement, the Kentucky operation will acquire full ownership of the colt. This year he will race in the name of Three Chimneys Farm/Dogwood Stable.
"The horse is doing well; he's full of himself and we're very pleased with him," Campbell said. "A lot of people have been coming out to watch him gallop in the mornings and a lot of people came out today. We planned to work him Saturday but we moved it up because of weather coming in here tomorrow.
"We've enjoyed having him, but we'll also be glad to send him off and away."
Palace Malice is the winner of six graded stakes, and is Curlin's top earner with current career earnings of $2,676,135.
Bred in Kentucky by William S. Farish out of the Royal Anthem mare Palace Rumor, he was a $200,000 purchase by Dogwood from the Niall Brennan consignment at the 2012 Keeneland April 2-year-olds in training sale, after being pinhooked by Colin Brennan for $25,000 from the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale when consigned by Lane's End.