Belmont Stakes: Palace Malice wins 2013

ELMONT PARK, N.Y. - Palace Malice, who set a surprisingly suicidal pace when equipped with blinkers for the first time in the Kentucky Derby, ran the race his trainer Todd Pletcher has believed he was capable of since the beginning of his 3-year-old campaign when defeating Preakness winner Oxbow and Kentucky Derby winner Orb in Saturday’s $1 million 2013 Belmont Stakes.

Racing without blinkers in the Belmont and with jockey Mike Smith aboard once again, Palace Malice rated off another extremely fast pace set this time by Freedom Child and Oxbow who posted 23.11 and 46.66 splits for his opening quarter and half-mile. Palace Malice readily ran by Oxbow in early stretch, then gradually edged well clear, posting a 3 1/4-length victory. Oxbow held gamely once relinquishing the lead to finish second, 1 3/4 lengths in front of Orb. Incognito was another length further back in fourth.

The victory was the second in the Belmont for Smith, who guided Drosselmeyer to victory in 2010.

Palace Malice, a son of Curlin out of a Royal Anthem mare, was one of five horses trainer Todd Pletcher started in the Belmont. He is owned by Cot Campbell’s Dogwood Stable.

Palace Malice completed the distance in 2:30.70 over a track upgraded from muddy to fast as the day progressed. He paid $29.60.

“He just ran through the bridle in the Derby,” said Smith. “Removing the blinkers made a huge difference. The whole key was being able to get him in that rhythm because he’s bred to run all day. I have to thank Todd Pletcher and Mr. Campbell, they could have very easily taken me off [after the Derby], but they stuck with the old guy and it paid off.