Vitalogy kicks off season in Palm Beach Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Maxfield isn’t the only promising 3-year-old in the Brendan Walsh barn whose return to action has been highly anticipated.

Vitalogy, unraced since finishing a fast-closing second in the Grade 3 Bourbon Stakes last October at Keeneland, will make his seasonal debut Saturday at Gulfstream in the Grade 3, $150,000 Palm Beach Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile turf race on the Fountain of Youth undercard. Javier Castellano has the mount on the British-bred colt by No Nay Never.

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Whereas Maxfield was voluntarily withdrawn from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita last fall with a minor injury, Vitalogy was ordered scratched – over Walsh’s strenuous objections – by a panel of veterinarians. Vitalogy had been widely regarded as one of the top contenders for the BC Juvenile Turf.

“I’m over it, but I am still a bit upset about it,” Walsh said. “After that happened, we sent Vitalogy to the clinic and had him examined head to toe to see if there was anything wrong, and there was nothing. With no more suitable races for him at the time, it was an opportunity to go ahead and give him a little break anyway.”

Since returning to Walsh at Palm Meadows, Vitalogy has maintained a steady work schedule since mid-January.

“He’s benefited from the time off,” Walsh said. “He’s trained right along and done very well. We’re very interested to see how we do Saturday.”

Walsh said Vitalogy could go back in the March 28 Cutler Bay at Gulfstream or the April 3 Transylvania at Keeneland, assuming he runs well Saturday.

Meanwhile, Walsh said that Maxfield is scheduled to breeze again Sunday at Palm Meadows, marking the third work for the Godolphin homebred since his return from ankle surgery. A specific comeback spot has yet to be announced for Maxfield, a 5 1/2-length winner of the Oct. 5 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland in his latest start.