Palace Malice didn't win while making his long-awaited return to racing Sunday, but Dogwood Stable President Cot Campbell wasn't discouraged by the 5-year-old bay horse's performance.
"I think we had to be satisfied," said Campbell after Palace Malice finished third in the six-furlong Diablo Stakes at Belmont Park in New York. "He had been off for ninth months and had to be a little rusty. He stumbled at the break and he was sprinting, which is not his game."
Ridden by John Velazquez, Palace Malice was the favorite in the field of five runners. He was last early after his bobble coming out of the starting gate, and he raced wide while trying to catch up.
Stallwalkin' Dude, who led nearly all the way, won the $98,000 Diablo by a neck while turning in a time of 1:09.48. Clearly Now finished second, 3¼ lengths in front of Palace Malice, who is owned by Dogwood in partnership with Three Chimneys Farm.
"Naturally, with a horse of that caliber, you are disappointed if he doesn't win," said Campbell, who stayed in Aiken instead of going to Belmont for the Diablo. "I was a trifle disappointed, but John Velazquez was not. He told Todd Pletcher (Palace Malice's trainer) that he thought it was a good race. He liked the way he galloped out, and he was very pleased with the effort, which probably speaks volumes."
A two-time Aiken-trained Horse of the Year and a two-time Eclipse Award finalist, Palace Malice was competing for the first time since finishing sixth in the Grade I Whitney Stakes last August. A bone bruise discovered afterward in the horse's left hind leg ended his 2014 season.
Palace Malice was supposed to make his 2015 debut in the Grade III Westchester Stakes on May 2 at Belmont, but a bruised right front foot kept him out of that race.
"It was what we were expecting," said Pletcher of Palace Malice's Diablo effort. "He got out-footed early and seemed to close pretty well. He galloped out well, so hopefully we got what we needed out of him. We knew it wasn't ideal coming in, but the options we had were limited. Hopefully, it moves him forward."
Palace Malice is scheduled to run next in the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap on June 6 at Belmont. Last year, he captured the Metropolitan by a length after winning the Westchester by 9¾ lengths.
"We are going to push onward," said Campbell less than an hour after the Diablo. "Palace Malice came back fine and is cooling out fine now."
Palace Malice, who triumphed in the Grade I Belmont Stakes in 2013, has seven victories, four seconds and two thirds in his 18 career races. He has earned $2,686,135.