Westchester looks like easy prep for Palace Malice

ELMONT, N.Y. – Todd Pletcher said he was looking for a prep race for Palace Malice in between the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on March 29 and the Grade 1, $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park on June 7.

Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Westchester Stakes is shaping up to be more of a paid workout.

Palace Malice, arguably the top older male horse in training at the moment, meets just three rivals in the one-turn, one-mile Westchester, none of whom are in the class of last year’s Belmont Stakes winner.

Due to the short field and the overwhelming favorite Palace Malice figures to be, the Westchester is carded as the third race on Sunday’s 10-race program.

In two starts this year, Palace Malice won the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap, a one-turn mile like the Westchester, and the New Orleans Handicap, a two-turn, 1 1/8-mile race, by 4 3/4 lengths.[bc_video_id:324014:]

While Palace Malice has handled the one turn, Pletcher said he just wants to be sure it’s something Palace Malice can excel at before confirming him as a Met Mile starter.

“Certainly, the way he’s training, we’re optimistic that he’s going to run well,” said Pletcher, who trains Palace Malice for Cot Campbell’s Dogwood Stable. “We want to make sure if for some reason he’s not very good in the Westchester, then we’ve got some other options to go instead of the Met.”

From a training and physical standpoint, Pletcher said Palace Malice is “the best he’s ever been. He looks fantastic. He’s filled out. He’s doing well. He’s training super. I think he’s a horse that we always felt like would improve as a 4-year-old, and so far, it looks like he has.”

Campbell will not be able to attend the Westchester since he will be at the University of South Carolina, where he received an honorary degree for his “vision and leadership ... as well as exemplary and unparalleled dedication to the horse-racing industry.”

Declan’s Warrior, trained by Nick Zito, won four of his first five starts, including the Grade 3 Bay Shore, to begin his career. He tailed off last summer – being eased in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga – before returning with a solid second in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance at Gulfstream on March 20.

Joe Bravo is named to ride from the rail.

I’m Steppin’ It Up, a front-running allowance winner at Calder, has been based at Delaware Park since April. He is 1 for 2 at Belmont.

Red Rifle, another horse trained by Pletcher, won the Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston in March.