**Please see attached photo of Palace Malice. Credit NYRA,
Sunday, August 5, 2012
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Palace Malice became the first North American winner sired by multiple Horse of the Year Curlin with a dominant 3-½ length maiden score Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. The Dogwood Stable color-bearer will now be pointed for the Grade 2, $300,000 Three Chimneys Hopeful on Monday, September 3.
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In Saturday’s seventh race, an $80,000 maiden event at 6 ½ furlongs on the dirt, Palace Malice broke alertly, tracked a swift pace while running three wide down the backstretch, took over on the turn, and cruised home to an easy victory under jockey Javier Castellano, while still running somewhat greenly through the stretch. He paid $2.70 to win for a $2 wager as the overwhelming 1-5 favorite in the field of seven.
“We expected him to run well like he did first time out and maybe improve, but you never take anything for granted in this business,” said Pletcher, who leads the
On pedigree alone, Palace Malice should have no trouble handling a route of ground. His sire, Curlin, won seven Grade 1 distance races en route to being named Horse of the Year in 2007 and 2008. Among those victories were the Preakness, the Woodward, the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the Dubai World Cup, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, winning the latter event twice.
“He is the only Curlin that we have, and we are very fond of this colt,” said Pletcher.
Palace Malice also gets stamina from his female family. His dam, Palace Rumor, was a stakes winner going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Palace Malice is her third foal; her first two have not had any notable success yet. She also has an unnamed yearling filly by City Zip.
Dogwood Stable President Cot Campbell was very pleased with his promising juvenile’s effort.
“It was a wonderful performance,” said
Other Horses previously featured in the New York Watch series include 2010 Champion Two-Year-Old Male Uncle Mo, 2011 Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Royal Delta, and Grade 1 winners Boys At Tosconova, J. B.’s Thunder, Winter Memories, Currency Swap, and To Honor and Serve.
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