Palace Malice to eye New Orleans after Aiken break

Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice arrived in Aiken, South Carolina, last

week for two easy months before launching a 2014 campaign that could begin with

the New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on March 29, according to Dogwood

president Cot Campbell.

"This year the colt won the Belmont Stakes and the Jim Dandy Stakes, and was

second in the Blue Grass and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and third in the Risen

Star. He ran just about every month -- and thrived on it. He's a throwback to

old time campaigners. His physical exam at Rood and Riddle in Lexington was

clean, following his unplaced Breeders' Cup Classic run. This is a tribute to a

tough horse and a fine trainer in Todd Pletcher," Campbell said.

Campbell said Palace Malice would train every other day while in the care of

Dogwood's Aiken trainer Brad Stauffer, and would be sent back to Pletcher at the

Palm Meadows training facility in Florida in early January.

"The Donn at Gulfstream comes up too quick but Todd agreed that the New

Orleans race at the end of March would be logical."

With 12 lifetime starts, the son of Curlin and the Royal Anthem mare Palace

Rumor has earned $1,481,135.

"He's a great hero in Aiken, and we are training him and grazing him at

specific times so folks can come out and see him. There were many Breeders' Cup

parties around here on November 2, but they started going downhill when his

rider, John Velasquez, was injured in an earlier race. That was the first

indication that it was not to be our day," Campbell said.

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