After a hard fought victory head in the Gulfstream Park Handicap in his
season debut March 8, Palace Malice had an easier time establishing his
authority in the Grade 2, $388,000
New
Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on Saturday.
Enduring a wide stalking trip under Mike Smith as Bradester set fractions of
:23 3/5, :47 4/5 and 1:11 4/5, the 2013 Belmont winner powerfully moved
past that rival around the far turn, floated 11-10 favorite Normandy Invasion
very wide entering the stretch, and drew off from that rival to win by 4 3/4
lengths.
“This horse holds a special place in my heart,” Smith said. “I am just so
happy that it worked out that I got to reunite with him and he didn’t let us
down. He might be better than he was last year. He did that pretty handily
today.”
The 6-5 second choice in a field of six, Palace Malice returned $4.40 after
completing nine furlongs on a fast track in 1:48 4/5.
Owned by Dogwood Stable and trained by Todd Pletcher, Palace Malice became
only the second classic winner to go on and win the New Orleans Handicap as an
older horse. The feat was previously accomplished by Master Derby, who won Fair
Grounds’ leading race for older horses a year after winning the 1975 Preakness.
Normandy Invasion, the favorite after an impressive Gulfstream allowance
victory in his season debut, finished second, 6 3/4 lengths ahead of
Louisiana-bred Sunbean. It was some distance back to Fordubai, Golden Soul and
Bradester. Mister Marti Gras and Prayer for Relief were scratched.
By Curlin, Palace Malice won his second career start at Saratoga in 2012. The
Kentucky-bred colt was put on the shelf for the remainder of his two-year-old
season, returning with a runner-up against allowance rivals at Gulfstream Park n
his sophomore debut.
The bay finished a close third when making his stakes debut in the Risen Star
in February 2013 and followed with a troubled seventh in the Louisiana Derby.
Palace Malice went on to post a neck second in the Blue Grass before
experimenting with blinkers in the Kentucky Derby, where he sprinted to the
early lead and recorded some of the fastest fractions in the race’s storied
history before retreating to 12th.
With the blinkers removed in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont, Palace Malice rated
kindly on the front end for his connections and earned his first stakes win with
a 3 1/4-length upset at 13-1. He went on to capture the Jim Dandy before missing
the break and recording a close fourth in the Travers.
In his first start against older horses, Palace Malice finished second in the
Jockey Club Gold Cup. He experienced another awkward start and never threatened
in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Now two-for-two this term, Palace
Malice improved his career line to 14-5-4-1, $1,871,135.
Bred by W.S. Farish, Palace Malice sold for $25,000 as a Keeneland September
yearling prior to coming to Dogwood as a $200,000 Keeneland April two-year-old.
He is the first stakes winner out of the stakes-winning Royal Anthem mare Palace
Rumor, who is a half-sister to multiple stakes scorers Maya’s Storm and
Jumpifyoudare. His third dam is the granddam of Grade 1 victor Rail Trip, and
further back this family has also produced English champion sprinter Flirting
Around.
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