Palace Malice wins Belmont Stakes
Elmont, NY (Sports Network) – Palace Malice, one of five in the race from trainer Todd Pletcher’s barn, pulled away down the stretch and went on to win Saturday’s 145th $1 million Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park.
Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Palace Malice covered the 1 1/2 miles in 2:30.70 on a fast track.
“Today, just enjoying the whole trip, sucking all air in and full of run heading for home,” Smith said about Palace Malice winning the final leg of racing’s Triple Crown.
Palace Malice, owned by Dogwood Stable, was always near the lead in the “Test of the Champion.” The colt, who set the pace in the Kentucky Derby and then finished 12th, took the lead at the top of the stretch and drove to a 3 1/4- length victory over Preakness winner Oxbow with Kentucky Derby champ Orb finishing third in the 14-horse field.
“I really want to thank Cot Campbell and all of Dogwood for sticking with me,” Smith said referring to the Derby outcome. “They could have very easily took me off. They stuck with the old guy and it paid off.”
Frac Daddy set the early pace with Freedom Child, Oxbow and Palace Malice pressing the leader. Oxbow, ridden by Gary Stevens again, went to the front nearing the far turn as Freedom Child and Palace Malice continued to force the pace.
Around the far turn, Oxbow, Palace Malice and Revolutionary were together on the lead as 2-1 favorite Orb, ridden by Joel Rosario, moved closer after being far back during the early going.
Coming off the turn, it was Oxbow and Palace Malice, a 13-1 longshot, together on the front end with Orb gaining ground into third. Entering the stretch, Palace Malice and Oxbow were together on the lead as Orb moved into contention.
Palace Malice went past Oxbow and Orb approaching the furlong pole and cruised to victory for just the second time in his career.
“It’s huge, it’s huge,” winning trainer Pletcher exclaimed. “We always felt he had a big win in him. We were just waiting for it to develop.”
The order of finish was completed by Oxbow, Orb, Incognito, Revolutionary, Unlimited Budget, Overanalyze, Vyjack, Golden Soul, Will Take Charge, Giant Finish, Midnight Taboo, Freedom Child and Frac Daddy.
The other four horses from the Pletcher stable were Overanalyze, Midnight Taboo, Revolutionary and the filly Unlimited Budget.
Palace Malice earned $600,000 with the win, his first victory since breaking his maiden last August. The 3-year-old has earned $871,135 in eight career starts.
This year the colt was third in the Rebel Stakes and seventh in the Louisiana Derby, both at Fair Grounds. He came back to finish second to Java’s War in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland before fading to 12th in the Kentucky Derby.
The win was the second in the Belmont Stakes for both the trainer and jockey. Pletcher won the 2007 edition with the filly Rags to Riches and Smith won three years ago on another longshot, Drosselmeyer.
Palace Malice returned $29.60, $11.20 and $6.70. Oxbow paid $9.90 and $6.10, and Orb paid $3.90 to show.
Categorized in: Horses