Palace Malice

Last updated

Palace Malice
Palace Malice.jpg
Palace Malice winning the 2014 Metropolitan Handicap
Sire Curlin
Grandsire Smart Strike
DamPalace Rumour
Damsire Royal Anthem
Sex Stallion
FoaledMay 2, 2010
CountryUnited States
Color Bay
Breeder William S. Farish III
Owner Dogwood Stable
Trainer Todd Pletcher
Record17: 7-4-1
Earnings$2,686,135 [1]
Major wins
Belmont Stakes (2013)
Jim Dandy Stakes (2013)
Gulfstream Park Handicap (2014)
New Orleans Handicap (2014)
Westchester Stakes (2014)
Metropolitan Handicap (2014)

Palace Malice (born May 2, 2010) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2013 Belmont Stakes. After winning one minor race as a two-year-old he made steady improvement in the early part of 2013, being placed in the Risen Star Stakes and Blue Grass Stakes and running prominently in the Kentucky Derby before winning the Belmont Stakes, and the 2014 Metropolitan Handicap. He went on to win the Jim Dandy Stakes and finish second against older horses in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. As a four-year-old in 2014 he won his first four races including the Gulfstream Park Handicap, New Orleans Handicap and Metropolitan Handicap. After two races in 2015, he was retired as a five-year-old and sent to stand at stud at Three Chimneys Farm.

Contents

Background

Palace Malice is a dark bay horse with a small white star and is 16 hands high, [2] bred in Kentucky by W.S. Farish. [3] He is from the first crop of foals sired by the 2007 Preakness Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic winner Curlin. His dam, Palace Rumor, won the 2006 Audubon Oaks and is a half-sister to Maya's Storm and Jumpifyoudare. Palace Malice was her first stakes winner, [4] but after being exported to Japan she produced the Tenno Sho winner Justin Palace. As a descendant of the broodmare Saracen Flirt, she was a distant relative of the St Leger Stakes winner Mutafaweq. [5]

In September 2011, Palace Malice was consigned to the Keeneland Sale and was bought for $25,000 by the bloodstock agent Colin Brennan. [6] In April 2012, the colt returned to Keeneland and was sold for a significant profit, being bought for $200,000 by Dogwood Stable. [7] He was sent into training with the four-time Eclipse Award winner Todd Pletcher.

Racing career

2012: two-year-old season

Palace Malice made his racecourse debut in a maiden race over five furlongs at Belmont Park on July 5, 2012 in which he was ridden by Javier Castellano and finished second, beaten half a length by Carried Interest. A month later at Saratoga Race Course he started favorite for a maiden over 6+1⁄2 furlongs. After causing some trouble at the start, he recorded his first success, taking the lead at half way and winning by 3+1⁄2 lengths from seven opponents. [8] He was the first of Curlin's offspring in the United States to win a race. [9]

2013: three-year-old season

Palace Malice began his three-year-old season at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. In the Risen Star Stakes on February 23, 2013, he finished a nose in front of Oxbow when taking third place behind Ive Struck A Nerve and Code West. [10] At the same course five weeks later he started second favorite for the Louisiana Derby but finished seventh of the 14 runners behind Revolutionary. [11] On April 13, Palace Malice contested the Blue Grass Stakes on the polytrack surface at Keeneland. He tracked the leaders before taking the lead 120 yards from the finish but was caught in the last strides and beaten a neck by Java's War. [12]

Palace Malice was one of 19 colts to contest the 139th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in which he was ridden by the 47-year-old veteran Mike E. Smith and started at odds of 23.7/1. He took the lead from the start and set a very fast pace, the second fastest initial quarter- and half-miles in Derby history, a pace described as "suicidal", and attributed to the decision to put blinkers on him for the first time. [13] He was overtaken in the straight and dropped back through the field to finish in 12th place behind race winner Orb. [14] On June 8, 2013, Palace Malice, ridden again by Smith, started at odds of 13.8/1 for the Belmont Stakes. [15] Smith tracked across from a wide draw to position the colt just behind the leaders as Frac Daddy set a fast early pace. Oxbow went to the front at half way but the Preakness winner was overtaken by Palace Malice on the turn into the straight. Palace Malice drew clear in the last quarter mile to win by 3+1⁄4 lengths from Oxbow, with Orb in third. [16]

Palace Malice prepped for the Travers Stakes with a run in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on July 27. Starting the 27/20 favorite he took the lead in the straight and won by a length from Will Take Charge. A month later, Palace Malice faced again Will Take Charge in the Travers Stakes which also attracted Orb and the Haskell Invitational Stakes winner Verrazano. Palace Malice started very poorly and was unable to get into contention until the straight, when he finished strongly to finish fourth, beaten a nose, three quarters of a length and a nose again by Will Take Charge, Moreno and Orb. Smith said: "He broke really, really, really bad. What am I going to do? I cannot go for the lead. All I could do is sit back there, creep up, creep up, creep up and see if I could get him there. I thought I still had it for a little bit there, but it was just too much to make up." [17]

On 28 September, Palace Malice was matched against older horses in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont. Smith tracked the leader Alpha and was three wide most of the way before making his challenge in the straight. He stayed on well in the closing stages, finishing second to the easy winner Ron The Greek. His connections noted that his wide path meant that he traveled 67 feet (20 m) – over seven lengths – more than the winner, and stated that he would run next in the Breeders' Cup Classic. [18] In the Classic on November 2, Palace Malice started fourth choice in the betting but was never in serious contention and finished sixth of the eleven runners behind Mucho Macho Man.

2014: four-year-old season

Palace Malice began his third season in the Grade II Gulfstream Park Handicap over a mile on March 9 and was made favorite despite carrying top weight of 119 pounds. Having taken a slight lead on the final turn he rallied after being headed in the straight and won by a head from the five-year-old Golden Ticket. Pletcher described the performance as "a huge effort off the layoff". [19] Mike Smith rode the colt when he was asked to carry top weight of 121 pounds in the Grade II New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds Race Course three weeks later. Despite being forced six wide on the turn, he took the lead in the straight and won by almost five lengths from the favored Normandy Invasion. When Palace Malice was dropped to Grade III class for the Westchester Stakes only three horses appeared to oppose him and he won easily by almost ten lengths at odds of 1/20. [20]

On 7 June at Belmont, Palace Malice returned to Grade I company for the first time since the Breeders' Cup Classic when he carried top weight of 124 pounds in the Metropolitan Handicap over one mile. Ridden by John Velasquez, he produced a sustained run in the straight to take the lead well inside the final furlong and won by a length from the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents. The Blood-Horse described Palace Malice's performance as "brilliant" while Pletcher said that the colt's victory was "an unbelievable achievement". [21] The Racing Post rated Palace Malice's performance as the best achieved on dirt by any horse in the world up to that time in 2014. [22] On August 2 the colt started the 13/20 favourite for the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga in which he carried 124 pounds (equal highweight with Will Take Charge). He raced just behind the leaders but began to struggle approaching the straight and faded to finish sixth of the nine runners behind the wire-to-wire winner Moreno.

On September 5, it was announced that Palace Malice had been retired with bone bruising to his left hind cannon bone. [23] However, shortly thereafter, Three Chimneys Farm purchased a 50% share in the horse and it was announced that while he would take several months off to heal, and upon reassessment of his condition in November, 2014, it could be possible that he would race again in 2015 in the colors of Dogwood Stables, but thereafter would stand at stud at Three Chimneys, which would then have full ownership of the horse. [24]

He returned to the track in 2015, but after two races where he placed third in May and fourth in August, he was retired for good, and sent to stand at stud at Three Chimneys. Pletcher said, "Palace Malice was all class from day one...He was the most versatile horse I have ever trained and one of the best." [25]

Stud career

After retirement, Palace Malice initially stood as a stallion at Three Chimneys Stud in Kentucky for a service fee of $25,000. [26] In 2024, he was bought by Darley Japan to stand in Hidaka, Hokkaido in Japan. His service free is currently priced at 3.5 million yen. [27]

Notable progeny

Palace Malice has currently sired two Grade 1 winners:

c = colt, f = filly , g = gelding

FoaledNameSexMajor wins
2017Structorc Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf
2021 Jantar Mantar c Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, NHK Mile Cup

Pedigree

Pedigree of Palace Malice (USA), bay, 2010 [28]
Sire
Curlin (USA)
2004		 Smart Strike (CAN)
1992		 Mr. Prospector Raise a Native
Gold Digger
Classy 'n Smart Smarten
No Class
Sheriff's Deputy (USA)
1994		 Deputy Minister Vice Regent
Mint Copy
BarbarikaBates Motel
War Exchange
Dam
Palace Rumor (USA)
2003		 Royal Anthem (USA)
1995		 Theatrical Nureyev
Tree of Knowledge
In Neon Ack Ack
Shamara
Whisperifyoudare (USA)
1997		Red Ransom Roberto
Arabia
Stellar Affair Skywalker
Fawn and Hahn (Family: 2-s) [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Prospector</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Mr. Prospector was a Thoroughbred racehorse who became an outstanding breeding stallion and notable sire of sires. A sprinter whose career was cut short by repeated injuries, he won seven of his 14 starts, including the Gravesend Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack and the Whirlaway Handicap at Garden State Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John R. Velazquez</span> Puerto Rican jockey

John R. Velazquez is a Puerto Rican jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. He began his career in Puerto Rico and moved to New York in 1990. In 2004 and 2005 he was the United States Champion Jockey by earnings and both years was given the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey. He was inducted into the Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2012, rode his 5,000th winner in 2013, and became the leading money-earning jockey in the history of the sport in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Pletcher</span> American horse trainer

Todd Pletcher is an American thoroughbred horse trainer. He won the Eclipse Award eight times as Trainer of the Year, four of these in consecutive years. His horses Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (2017) won the Kentucky Derby. He also won the Belmont Stakes with Rags to Riches (2007), Palace Malice (2013), Tapwrit (2017) and Mo Donegal (2022). He also trained Malathaat who won the 2021 Kentucky Oaks.

Ashado is an American Thoroughbred racemare whose seven Grade I wins included the 2004 Breeders' Cup Distaff. She won Eclipse Awards as the Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 2004 and Champion Older Female of 2005, and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2014. At the end of the 2005 racing season, her owners sold her at the Keeneland Sales November auction for $9 million, a world-record price for a broodmare/broodmare prospect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rags to Riches (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Rags to Riches is a retired champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2007 Belmont Stakes, the first filly to win it in over a century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blame (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Blame is a retired American champion Thoroughbred racehorse, a winner of nine races in 13 starts including the prestigious Breeders' Cup Classic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruler on Ice</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Ruler on Ice is a Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 2011 Belmont Stakes. He was bred and foaled in Kentucky by Brandywine Farm in partnership with Liberation Farm on. He is a chestnut gelding sired by Hill 'n' Dale Farms' Roman Ruler out of the Saratoga Six-bred mare, Champagne Glow. The colt was consigned as lot 988 at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling auction, where he was purchased by George and Lori Hall for $100,000. Ruler on Ice only won one minor race after winning the Belmont and was retired from racing in July 2014. He lives in Versailles, Kentucky at the farm of his owners.

Shanghai Bobby is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2012 he was unbeaten in five races including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and was awarded American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt at the Eclipse Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orb (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Orb is a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2013 Kentucky Derby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Belmont Stakes</span> 145th running of the Belmont Stakes

The 2013 Belmont Stakes was the 145th running of the Belmont Stakes, the third jewel in the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. The race was held on June 8, 2013. For the third consecutive year, the race was run without the Triple Crown being at stake as 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb was defeated in the 2013 Preakness Stakes by Oxbow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxbow (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Oxbow, an American Thoroughbred racehorse, is best known for winning the second jewel in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, the 2013 Preakness Stakes. A bay colt, sired by a winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic and out of a full sister to another Breeders' Cup Classic winner, Oxbow was sold as a yearling at Keeneland for $250,000 and is owned by Brad Kelley of Calumet Farm. He was trained by D. Wayne Lukas and was ridden in his Triple Crown races by Gary Stevens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Itsmyluckyday</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Itsmyluckyday is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Itsmyluckyday is a multiple graded stakes winner who finished second in the 2013 Preakness Stakes to Oxbow and won the Woodward Stakes in 2014.

Verrazano is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2013, trained by Todd Pletcher, he established himself as one of the leading three-year-old colts with early wins in the Tampa Bay Derby and Wood Memorial Stakes. He finished fourteenth in the Kentucky Derby and missed the remaining two legs of the Triple Crown but returned to prominence later in the summer with wins in the Pegasus Stakes and the Haskell Invitational Stakes. In his four-year-old year, he was campaigned in Europe, trained by Aidan O'Brien.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Take Charge</span> American Thoroughbred racehorse

Will Take Charge is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, the horse is best known for his wins in the 2013 Travers Stakes and Clark Handicap and for being beaten by a nose in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic. He was named American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse for 2013. He was retired in September, 2014, and stands at stud at Three Chimneys Farm.

Take Charge Lady is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was one of the leading fillies of her generation in the United States, winning 11 of her 22 races between April 2001 and November 2003, earning over $2 million. She recorded Grade I victories in the Ashland Stakes and consecutive editions of the Spinster Stakes, and also won the Alcibiades Stakes, Silverbulletday Stakes, Fair Grounds Oaks, Dogwood Stakes and Arlington Matron Stakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keen Ice</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Keen Ice is an American Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the 2015 Travers Stakes in an upset win over Triple Crown Champion American Pharoah. He previously faced off against American Pharoah and other notable horses in the 2015 Kentucky Derby, finishing seventh, was third in the 2015 Belmont Stakes, and was second in the 2015 Haskell Invitational Stakes. Prior to the Travers, his only other win had been a maiden race at Churchill Downs as a two-year-old.

Liam's Map is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Unraced as a juvenile, he won three of his four races in 2014 without being tested against top-class opposition. As a four-year-old he emerged as one of the best horses in North America with win in the Woodward Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. He was retired at the end of the season with a record of six wins and two places in eight starts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exaggerator</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Exaggerator is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse, winner of the 2016 Preakness Stakes. Racing as a two-year-old in 2015, he won three of his six starts including the Saratoga Special Stakes and the Delta Jackpot Stakes as well as finishing second in the Breeders' Futurity and fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The following spring, he finished second in the San Vicente Stakes and third in the San Felipe Stakes before establishing himself as a contender for the 2016 Kentucky Derby with a six length win in the Santa Anita Derby. After finishing second to Nyquist in the Derby, he turned the tables to win the 2016 Preakness Stakes. He ran poorly in the 2016 Belmont Stakes but defeated Nyquist again in the Haskell Invitational. Tactically, Exaggerator was a "closer" – one who prefers to come from behind in his races.

Known Agenda is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2021 Grade I Florida Derby.

Forte is a retired champion American Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old, he won the Grade I Hopeful Stakes, Breeders' Futurity and Breeders' Cup Juvenile en route to being named champion juvenile of 2022. At the age of three, he won the Florida Derby and Jim Dandy Stakes.

References

  1. ↑ "Palace Malice statistics". Equibase. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  2. ↑ Staff. "Palace Malice" (PDF). Dogwood Stables. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  3. ↑ "How Saturday's 145th Belmont Stakes field lines up". USA Today. June 8, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  4. ↑ Staff. "Palace Rumor". Equineline. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Orville Mare – Family 2-s". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Keeneland Association September 2011 Yearling Sale". Racing Post . Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Keeneland Association April 2012 Two-Year-Olds Sale". Racing Post . Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Maiden Special Weight result". Equibase. August 4, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  9. ↑ Blood-Horse staff (August 6, 2012). "Curlin's First U.S. Winner Wins at Saratoga". Blood Horse.com. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Risen Star Stakes result". Racing Post. February 23, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Louisiana Derby result". Racing Post. March 30, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Blue Grass Stakes result". Racing Post. April 13, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  13. ↑ Marshall, Bill (May 2013). "Stable president says blinkers were 'villain' for Palace Malice". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Kentucky Derby result". Racing Post. May 4, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Palace Malice captures the Belmont Stakes". USA Today. June 8, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Palace Malice wins Belmont Stakes". CNN. June 8, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Will Take Charge gets up in time". ESPN. August 24, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Palace Malice places second in Jockey Club Gold Cup". Aiken Standard. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  19. ↑ Tom LaMarra (March 8, 2014). "Palace Malice Returns a Winner in GP Handicap". BloodHorse. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  20. ↑ Shinar, Jack (May 11, 2014). "Palace Malice Turns Westchester Into Workout". BloodHorse. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  21. ↑ Novak, Claire (June 7, 2014). "Palace Malice Brilliant in Met Mile". BloodHorse. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  22. ↑ Sam Walker (June 9, 2014). "World Class: Australia awesome but all not lost with Chrome". Racing Post . Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Whitney Handicap result". Racing Post. August 2, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Three Chimneys Buys Stake in Palace Malice; More Racing Still Possible". September 23, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Belmont Winner Palace Malice Retired". bloodhorse.com. August 27, 2015. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Palace Malice Three Chimneys Stud". threechimneys.com. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  27. ↑ "Palace Malice, Yoshida to Stand at Darley in Japan". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  28. ↑ "Palace Malice pedigree". Equineline. May 8, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.