When Palace Malice makes his 2015 racing debut on May 2, Edgar Prado will be aboard the bay horse instead of his regular rider, John Velazquez.
"Edgar is a wonderful veteran jockey," said Dogwood Stable President Cot Campbell on Monday. "He is no spring chicken, but he is still riding great and he was available. He approached us about riding Palace Malice knowing we would be looking for a rider. "
The reason for the change is that Velazquez is scheduled to be busy riding either Carpe Diem or Materiality in the grade I Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on the same day that 5-year-old Palace Malice runs in the grade III Westchester Stakes at New York's Belmont Park.
Velazquez and Prado both are members of Thoroughbred racing's Hall of Fame. Velazquez was Palace Malice's jockey in four of the bay horse's five races last year. Prado has ridden Palace Malice only once, guiding him to a seventh-place finish in the grade II Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds in 2013.
"We could hardly expect Velazquez to turn down a Kentucky Derby mount, so we had the choice of going with a veteran rider like Edgar or a young up-and-comer," Campbell said. "We elected to go with a guy who had been on Palace Malice before and who knows his stuff. Palace Malice had a very brutal trip in the Louisiana Derby. He was blocked every step of the way, but we didn't blame Edgar. It was just one of those things."
The latest arrangement with Prado is just for the $150,000 Westchester. Velazquez will remain the first choice as a jockey for Palace Malice in any subsequent starts.
"I don't think we could have done any better," Campbell said. "Edgar wants to ride Palace Malice - of course, anyone would - and we are very lucky to have him."
Owned by Dogwood and Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky, Palace Malice was the Aiken-Trained Horse of the Year in 2013 and 2014. He also was a finalist for the Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old male in 2013 and for the Eclipse Award for champion older male in 2014.
Palace Malice captured the grade I Belmont Stakes in 2013 and the grade I Metropolitan Handicap last year. He won last year's edition of the Westchester by 9 ¾ lengths.
An earner of $2,676,135, Palace Malice has seven victories in 17 career starts. He hasn't raced since finishing sixth in the grade I Whitney Stakes last August. A bruised bone in his left hind leg ended his 2014 campaign.
Palace Malice left Florida's Palm Beach Downs in a van headed for Belmont Park on Monday morning. He was expected to arrive early this morning.
"He will work a half-mile on Saturday, Sunday or Monday, depending on the weather," Campbell said.