Palace to put best foot forward in Vosburgh

ELMONT, N.Y. – After initially saying she didn’t think Palace could make Saturday’s Grade 1 Vosburgh, trainer Linda Rice has reversed course and now believes her Grade 1-winning sprinter will be ready for the six-furlong stepping-stone to the Breeders’ Cup.

Palace, who suffered a significant foot injury when he stumbled at the start of the John Morrissey Stakes on July 30, worked five furlongs in 59.85 seconds Sunday over Belmont’s training track.

“He had a great breeze yesterday, came out of it pretty well, so I think we look like we could make it,” Rice said Monday. “We’re still working on the foot – it’s still a pretty ugly thing – but he’s doing okay. We’ll see how he comes out of the breeze the next few days.”

Palace will take on Rock Fall, a winner of four straight races, including the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt on Aug. 1, Clearly Now, Salutos Amigos, Stallwalkin’ Dude, Wildcat Red, and Brothersofthetime.

◗ Azar, the winner of the Grade 2 With Anticipation, heads what figures to be an eight-horse field for Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Pilgrim Stakes. Also expected are Brass Compass, Eidmilaad, Highland Sky, Isotherm, Next Shares, Ray’s the Bar, and possibly Dissident.