Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) contender Palace Malice breezed a half-mile over the training track Oct. 27, one of 15 horses that were put through their final drills in advance of the next weekend's two-day racing extravaganza.
Clockers caught Dogwood Stable's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner in a :48.12 blow-out, second fastest of 64 at the distance on the training track. The 3-year-old son of Curlin , trained by Todd Pletcher, is coming off a runner-up finish in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) Sept. 28.
This was the third breeze for Palace Malice over the Belmont training track since the Gold Cup, in which he finished 6 3/4 lengths behind Ron the Greek. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez is to ride Palace Malice in the Classic, replacing Mike Smith, who has taken the call on pre-race favorite Game On Dude.
Palace Malice, who also won the Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) this season, brings a lifetime mark of 3-4-1 in 11 races into the Breeders' Cup with earnings of more than $1.4 million.
Following are the other Breeders' Cup horses on the Belmont worktable Oct. 27.
—Sprint: The Lumber Guy, 4f, 48.68, training track
—Turf: Point of Entry , 5f, 1:00.66, inner turf; Real Solution , 5f, 1:01.14, inner turf; Big Blue Kitten , 5f, 1:01.14, inner turf; Twilight Eclipse, 5f, 1:01.65, main track
—F&M Turf: Alterite, 4f, 48.35, inner turf
—Classic: Palace Malice, 48.12, training track
—Juvenile: Havana, 4f, 49.11, training track
—Juvenile Fillies: Artemis Agrotera, 5f, 1:01.44, training track
—Dirt Mile: Hymn Book, 4f, 49.03, main track
—Juvenile Fillies Turf: Granny Mc's Kitten, 49.81, inner turf; Kitten Kaboodle, 4f, 48.60, inner turf; Testa Rossi, 48.91, inner turf; Ready to Act, 4f, 48.60, inner turf
—Juvenile Turf: Bobby's Kitten , 4f, 50.03, inner turf
Palace Malice
Coglianese Photos