Palace on the fence for Vanderbilt

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Although he is the defending champion and is ready to run off a four-month layoff, Palace is not certain to race next Saturday in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt, said trainer Linda Rice.

Palace rallied to a one-length victory over Happy My Way in the 2014 Vanderbilt and followed that win with an even better performance four weeks later, drawing away to a 3 1/2-length triumph in the Grade 1 Forego here. He has not won in his three subsequent starts, including a sixth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

“I’m looking at the Vanderbilt, of course, and there is a New York-bred stakes coming up as well,” said Rice, referring to the 6 1/2-furlong John Morrissey next Thursday. “I’m on the fence. It’s been a while since he’s run, and I might want to give him a confidence booster if the Vanderbilt comes up too tough.”

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Palace tuned up for whichever race he’ll show up in by working five furlongs from the half-mile pole in 1:00.43 over the main track Thursday.

“I was pointing him for the True North at Belmont, but he got an infection in his throat, so I sent him out for a little laser surgery and then turned him out for a month,” said Rice. “Obviously, he loves this track, and the Forego is our major goal here for the summer.”