Aqueduct: Palace eyes first graded win in Fall Highweight

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Palace, claimed for $20,000 13 months ago, will seek to become a graded stakes winner when he runs in Thursday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct.

Since being claimed by Linda Rice and owner Antonino Miuccio, Palace has won 6 of 9 starts, including, most recently, the $150,000 Hudson Handicap for New York-breds at Belmont Park. That race came two months after Palace knocked off Grade 1 winner The Lumber Guy in the Chowders First Stakes at Saratoga.

“I know this will obviously be a real tough test for him but I thought he deserved a chance,” Rice said Friday morning.

On Friday, Palace breezed five furlongs in 1:01.50 over the Belmont training track.

Entries were to be taken on Saturday for the Fall Highweight, the traditional feature on Aqueduct’s Thanksgiving Day card.

Others expected to enter include Caixa Eletronica, last year’s Fall Highweight winner, who worked a slow half-mile in 51.20 seconds on Friday, Jake N Elwood, Sage Valley, Saturday’s Charm, and Strapping Groom. Trainer Mike Hushion said he is considering The Lumber Guy and/or B Shanny.