Palace Malice works toward Jockey Club Gold Cup

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Saratoga Springs, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice put in a workout Monday morning at Saratoga Race Course with an eye on starting in the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Sept. 28.

Palace Malice worked five furlongs in 1:02.03 over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track. He galloped out seven furlongs in 1:29.

"The work was his usual flawless impressive work," noted the Dogwood Stable website. "Now he ships to Belmont on Tuesday and will have his final work next Sunday. It will be either a half or five-eighths."

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Palace Malice finished a close fourth to Will Take Charge in the Travers, beaten less than a length. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith was aboard the 3-year-old for a fourth straight race.

The colt has won three of 10 career starts with three seconds for $1,281,135.

With a field of eight or nine expected for the Gold Cup, Palace Malice will be meeting older horses for the first time in the 1 1/4-mile race.

Also working Monday at Saratoga was another Pletcher-trained colt, Cross Traffic. The gray 4-year-old went five furlongs in 1:01.26 on the Oklahoma training track.

The Gold Cup will be Cross Traffic's first start since winning the Whitney at Saratoga on Aug. 3. The race will be the colt's sixth career start, having made his debut this year at Gulfstream Park in January.