Aqueduct: Palace gets pair of helpers for Gravesend

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Palace may get a little help from a couple of friends in Saturday’s $100,000 Gravesend Stakes at Aqueduct when he squares off against Grade 1 winner Strapping Groom in a rematch of last month’s Fall Highweight Handicap.

Palace, who beat Strapping Groom by 1 1/2 lengths in the Fall Highweight, was one of three horses entered by trainer Linda Rice in the six-furlong Gravesend. Rice also entered Frazil, who won this race in 2011, and Abra, who would be making his stakes debut in this spot. All three run as separate betting interests.

Frazil was entered as insurance to make sure the Gravesend filled, Rice said. Abra was entered as a potential pace player in a race where Strapping Groom, winner of the Grade 1 Forego, loomed the primary speed.

“I thought there might be a little lack of pace in the race, so I threw Abra in there because of that,” Rice said. “He’s a speed horse on the inner track. He’s in light as well. I thought it might be worth a look.”

Palace has won three consecutive races for Rice and seven of 10 for her and owner Antonino Miuccio, who claimed Palace for $20,000 in October 2012. In his three-race winning streak, Palace has won over dirt at Saratoga, Belmont, and the main track at Aqueduct. He won over the inner track at Aqueduct last December.

Palace is running back 23 days after recording a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 104 in the Fall Highweight.

“I would rather have an extra two weeks going into this race timing-wise but I don’t write the condition book so here we are,” Rice said. “He’s doing well enough. He’s been training very well coming into the race, so we’re going to go with it.”

Strapping Groom won the Grade 1 Forego in the slop at Saratoga on Aug. 31, but has lost three consecutive races since. His second-place finish in the Fall Highweight, in which he carried 135 pounds, six more than Palace, was his best effort since the Forego.

David Jacobson, trainer of Strapping Groom, said the horse was suffering from foot issues for a while after the Forego, but said “he’s going into this race 110 percent. I expect a race comparable to the Forego. They’re really going to have to run to beat him on Saturday.”

Battier, who hasn’t run six furlongs since taking a starter allowance at Parx Racing on New Year’s Day, is entered but only 50-50 to run, trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Broad Rule, who finished second to Caixa Eletronica in his lone try over Aqueduct’s inner track is entered for his first start since running third in the Damitrius Stakes at Delaware Park in September.