Adam Coglianese
Trainer Linda Rice feels that Palace has the “heart of a lion.” Antonino Miuccio’s’ former $20,000 claimer put that heart (and more) on display at Saratoga on Saturday afternoon, reeling in loose-on-the-lead Happy My Way in late stretch to win the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap. The $210,000 winner’s share of the Vanderbilt purse also turned Palace into the latest New York-bred millionaire.
Since being claimed by Rice from Bill Mott and WinStar farm in October 2012 out of an 11 3/4-length maiden-breaking romp, Palace has compiled a remarkable resume, winning eight races including four stakes, the Grade 2 True North, Grade 3 Fall Highweight, Chowder’s First Stakes and the Hudson Handicap. The 5-year-old son of City Zip was last seen on July 5 finishing second in the 7-furlong Grade 3 Belmont Sprint behind Clearly Now, who delivered a career performance that day, winning by six-plus lengths and establishing a new track record of 1:19.96.
Cutting back to arguably his best distance of six furlongs, and reunited with his pilot for the True North Cornelio Velasquez, Palace (2-1 second choice) broke a step behind the vanguard from his inside post and settled at the rail in fourth, while Happy My Way set blazing fractions of 22.13 and 44.49.
Adam Coglianese
Angling out in upper stretch, and moving into second with two lengths still to make up, Palace rallied with determination to the wire, finally reeling in Happy My Way in the final sixteenth to secure a one-length victory. Following Happy My Way across the line were Falling Sky, Vyjack, Capo Bastone, Lemon Drop Dream and Bahamian Squall. The final time for six panels over the fast track was 1:08.56. [VIDEO]
Linda Rice, who also trained Palace’s Grade 1-winning sire City Zip, said, “I was a little concerned about the No. 1 post position. It’s not ideal. It looked like he broke a step slow, so I was a little concerned at that point. It looked like the No. 5 horse, Happy My Way, was on a loose lead.
“Obviously, I was somewhat concerned,” continued Rice, “but this horse is such a competitor. He’s got the heart of a lion. Cornelio went after [Happy My Way] early, and he was able to run him down in the stretch. This horse really has a strong finish, and once he switched to his right lead and he was in reach of [Happy My Way] – he’s such a tremendous competitor – I knew that he would get to him.”
Adam Coglianese
Owner Antonino Miuccio was all smiles. “It feels good. I feel good for me and for the trainer, Linda Rice. I saw the horse coming and I was feeling good about him. He’s a good horse.”
Rice is relishing today’s victory without any specific plan for Palace’s next start, but will consider the seven-furlong Grade 1 Forego on August 30; otherwise she will seek out a six-furlong race down the line. When asked whether she might point Palace to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Rice said, “Sure, of course. You have to dream!”
Palace’s victory in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt runs up his record to 10 wins, five seconds and two thirds from 20 starts and boosts his earnings to $1,009,550. He becomes the twenty-fifth new York-bred to earn seven figures.
Bred by The Peter J. Callahan Revocable Trust Dated 2/28/02 and foaled at Jeffrey Tucker’s Stone Bridge Farm in Gansevoort, Palace changed hands only once at auction when purchased by Doug Cauthen, agent for $160,000 at the 2011 OBS select sale of 2-year-olds in training.
He is one of three winning foals and two stakes performers from Receivership, a seven-time winner by End Sweep ($198,300) who brought $85,000 at the 2005 OBS Winter mixed sale and also produced stakes-placed Retriever (Golden Missile). A half-sister to Grade 2 winner French Park, Receivership currently has a 2-year-old by Badge of Silver named Wincoma, a yearling colt by Posse and weanling filly by Pomeroy. She has been bred to City Zip.
