Palace Malice storms away for victory in Westchester Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – In what amounted to little more than a paid public workout at Belmont Park, Palace Malice cruised to a 9 3/4-length victory in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Westchester Stakes, setting him up for a much tougher assignment June 7 in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap.

Facing just three rivals, Palace Malice, last year’s Belmont Stakes winner, stalked from third while kept out in the clear by John Velazquez over the harrowed track labeled good. Palace Malice moved to the leaders, leaving the three-furlong pole, and with one slap on the shoulder and a vigorous hand-ride by Velazquez, Palace Malice opened up at will in the stretch.

Declan’s Warrior, last year’s Grade 3 Bay Shore winner, rallied from last to get second by 1 1/2 lengths over I’m Steppin’ It Up.

Palace Malice, a 4-year-old son of Curlin, owned by Dogwood Stable, ran a mile in 1:35.53 and returned $2.10 as the overwhelming favorite. With no show wagering offered, bridge jumpers poured $548,475 on Palace Malice to place out of $574,886 in the pool.

The win was the third in as many starts for Palace Malice this year and his sixth from 15 career starts.

Todd Pletcher, trainer of Palace Malice, said he wanted to run in the Westchester to make sure that the one-turn mile was something Palace Malice could excel in before committing to the Met Mile. He saw what he was looking for in the Westchester.

“I think it was everything we hoped it would be,” Pletcher said after he won his third race of the day with Celebrator, in the fourth. “He seemed to handle everything very well. When I saw the fourth race go a mile in 1:38, it makes you feel even better about it. I’m pretty excited about it.”

Among those Palace Malice will likely face in the Met Mile are Sahara Sky, last year’s Met Mile winner, Normandy Invasion, who finished second to Palace Malice earlier this year in the New Orleans Handicap, and Central Banker, winner of the Churchill Downs Stakes on Derby Day.