Palace Malice reported fine for Woodward start

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Saratoga Springs, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Dogwood Stable is reporting on its website that Palace Malice is healthy and will start in the $600,000 Woodward at Saratoga on August 30.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Palace Malice finished a disappointing sixth in the $1.5 million Whitney Handicap on August 2 as the 3-5 favorite.

"Following Palace Malice's uncharacteristic effort in the $1.5 million Whitney Handicap, the horse has been examined very thoroughly. He is sound, bright, energetic and enthusiastic. So, it seems trying to find a reason for his inferior performance would be an exercise in futility. We'll just draw a line through it and head for the $600,000 Woodward G-1 on August 30."

Palace Malice won his first four starts this year. The colt began the year by winning the Gulfstream Park Handicap on March 8 followed by a solid victory at Fair Grounds in the New Orleans Handicap three weeks later. He then claimed the Westchester Handicap at a mile by almost 10 lengths at Belmont on May 11. The colt decisively won the Met Mile on June 7 one year after taking the Belmont Stakes.

He has won seven of 17 career starts for $2,676,135.