Palace unlikely to make Vosburgh

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Linda Rice had big plans for Palace this year, including getting him to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint for a second consecutive year, but myriad issues have limited the multiple Grade 1 winner to just two starts in 2015, and it appears that time is running out to make the major fall sprint races.

Though Palace breezed five furlongs in 1:01.72 on Monday over Belmont Park’s training track, Rice didn’t seem to think he would be ready in time for the Grade 1 Vosburgh here Sept. 26.

“I don’t think so,” Rice said Monday. “He’d have to turn the corner pretty quickly, though he breezed a lot better today than he did at Saratoga.”

Palace hasn’t raced since July 30, when he stumbled at the start of the John Morrissey Stakes and grabbed himself, ripping off a significant part of his foot. After missing some time, he has been able to train while the foot grows back.

Earlier this year, when preparing for the True North Handicap in early June, Palace developed a throat infection, and Rice turned him out for several weeks, hoping to have a fresh horse for the fall.

Because he can be lazy, Palace began Monday’s breeze alongside another horse, who was just galloping with him to the pole. Palace went his first quarter in 25.18 seconds and his final three furlongs in 36.54.

Rice has time to get another work or two into Palace before the Vosburgh, but that still might not have him ready to take on the likes of Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap winner Rock Fall.

Rice could wait to run Palace in the $150,000 Hudson Handicap against New York-breds on Oct. 24, then point for a race such as the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct at the end of November.

Meanwhile, Rice said La Verdad is on course for the Gallant Bloom at Belmont on Sept. 26.

La Verdad is 4 for 4 this year but missed the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga due to inflammation in a hind leg. La Verdad worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 on Sept. 5 at Saratoga and likely will breeze again this week.

Championofthenile, one of Rice’s impressive 2-year-old winners at Saratoga, is under consideration for either the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont on Oct. 3 or the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard for New York-breds a week earlier.

“I’m dead even on both,” Rice said.

Some of the more impressive juvenile winners of the Saratoga meet were New York-breds, including Get Jets, who definitely is pointing to the Bongard, and Sudden Surprise, who is under consideration for the Bongard and the Champagne.