Whitney work for Palace Malice

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There is little doubt the Saratoga racing season is just around the corner after watching wave after wave of horses trained by Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown turn in works here Monday morning. With the meet opening a week from Friday, clockers on the main track, training track, and turf course timed over 200 workouts here Monday.

Between them, Pletcher and Brown worked 60 horses over the main track and turf course on Monday, including the Pletcher-trained Palace Malice, who breezed an easy half-mile for the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap on Aug. 2.

Working shortly after the renovation break over a track that had tightened up noticeably from earlier in the morning, Palace Malice cruised through a half mile in 49.28 while going in company with stablemate Rock Fall. Palace Malice was hard held through an opening split in 24.97 before completing his final quarter well within himself in 24.31. He then proceeded to gallop out a strong five-eighths in 1:02.01 and pull up six furlongs in 1:15.35.

The work was the second for Palace Malice since his one-length victory over Goldencents in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on Belmont Stakes Day, which was his fourth tally in as many starts this year.

“I thought he went very well – a nice, progressive breeze,” said Pletcher. “I thought he finished up good and galloped out well.”

The Palace Malice set was preceded by a pair of Pletcher’s stakes-winning fillies, Stopchargingmaria and My Miss Sophia, who breezed a half-mile in tandem in 47.75 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.10, with the former holding a slight advantage at the wire. Stopchargingmaria has not started since her neck victory in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan May 16, while My Miss Sophia, runner-up in the Kentucky Oaks, is coming off a seventh as the favorite in the Grade 1 Acorn on June 7.

“I thought they both worked well and I’m pointing both of them to the Coaching Club,” said Pletcher, referring to the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 20.

Nonna’s Boy, who turned in a dominant 6 1/2-length victory winning his debut on June 13 at Belmont Park, posted one of the sharpest works of the morning when he went five furlongs in 59.55 in company with fellow 2-year-old Touch the Moon. Pletcher said Nonna’s Boy will makes his stakes bow in the Grade 3 Sanford a week from Saturday.