Palladio cruises in Eclipse Stakes

Palladio ($19.70) manhandled a high-caliber field in Monday's $150,800 Eclipse Stakes at Woodbine, scoring by 2 1/2 lengths over three-time Canadian champion Judiths Wild Rush.

Palladio, Canada's champion 3-year-old in 2005, lowered the 1o1/16-mile Polytrack record in the Grade 3 event, completing the distance in 1:43.07. The previous record of 1:43.73 was set by Bear Now last Sunday in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes.

Palladio, under Richard Dos Ramos, inched his way into contention on the backstretch after sitting five lengths off a tepid early pace. Just Rushing and Judiths Wild Rush vied through fractions of 24.29 and 48.46 seconds.

Palladio took control from Judiths Wild Rush at the quarter pole and was never seriously threatened in the stretch. The favored True Metropolitan, last year's champion older male, outkicked Shillelagh Slew for third.

Palladio, trained by Roger Attfield, missed most of 2006 because of an injury and was making his fourth start off an extended layoff.