Saratoga: Pletcher pair work for Hopeful

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Todd Pletcher sent out his two prospective starters for the Grade 2 Hopeful, Shanghai Bobby and Palace Malice, to work distinctly different half-miles here on Tuesday.

Shanghai Bobby was the first of the pair to breeze, completing four furlongs in an easy 50.09 seconds at 6:30 a.m. Palace Malice came out more than two hours later, following the renovation break, and went the same distance in a crisper 47.26 in company with stablemate Overanalyze, galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.29 before pulling up three-quarters of a mile in 1:14.61.

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Shanghai Bobby, who is perfect in two career starts, was forced to skip a scheduled appearance earlier this month in the Saratoga Special when he developed a fever the day before the race. Palace Malice, second in his debut behind the talented Carried Interest at Belmont Park, returned to win his maiden by 3 1/2 lengths here on Aug. 4.

“They both seemed to work well,” said Pletcher. “It seemed like the track was slower during the first set when Shanghai Bobby worked. But he came back good, and we’ll ask him to do a little more next week. At the moment we’re pointing both of them to the Hopeful.