Palace Malice was such a victory for handicappers who still believe in the element of class. He and Normandy hadnt met since the Kentucky Derby. Off the long layoff last time, Normandy over a track in his disfavor looked terrific in an open-lengths romp. Now here he was again, Normandy Invasion, Mr. Visually Impressive (Remsen, Derby, comeback), a race fitter, albeit an ungraded race fitter, with lightweights in the rearview, finally ready to show us his military might, versus Palace Malice, who fought back on the fumes of class in his Grade 2 close-call return. With the Belmont Stakes, the Jim Dandy, the Travers, the Gold Cup and the Classic as his constitution, Palace Malice was still second choice to Normandy Invasion, 6-5 vs. 11-10, a dime between them. But on the track, in the showdown, Palace Malice just flicked him off. Full disclosure: I would have picked Normandy Invasion---he was getting six pounds, had made Gulf seem like Parx, home of the outside closers (though not recently). Class still matters sometimes, and thats very cool. Curlin!
Posted on: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 22:42:32 +0000
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