Palice Malice Wins Belmont Stakes

NEW YORK (AP) — Palace Malice took charge on the turn for home and won the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, holding off Preakness winner Oxbow and Kentucky Derby winner Orb.

The win gave Todd Pletcher his second Belmont winner in six years, and vindicated the trainer's support of a 3-year-old who came into the final leg of the Triple Crown with only one win.

Palace Malice, who finished 12th in the Derby and skipped the Preakness, covered the 1½ miles in a slow 2:30.70 on a fast track following a 24-hour downpour.

Palace Malice, ridden by Mike Smith and sent off at odds of 13-1, returned $29.60, $11.20 and $6.70. The colt was one of a record five entries by Pletcher.