Mink’s Palace made her four-year-old debut a winning one with hard-fought half-length victory in the Listed Roxelana Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday, 26 April.
The four-year-old daughter of Palace Malice once again displayed her affinity for Churchill Downs, improving her record at the Louisville oval to 4-1-1 in six starts.
Breaking alertly out of the starting gate for jockey Luis Saez, Mink’s Palace was forwardly-placed, tracking the early pacesetter, Sandy Bottom, from third. Sandy Bottom continued to hold a narrow advantage as the field raced through the far turn and hit the top of the stretch, but it quickly disappeared as Mink’s Palace made her move and took command with just over a furlong to run.
Mink’s Palace started to widen her lead, easily holding off the late bid from Tripolina to win by a half-length. Harbor Springs got up to take third.
Mink’s Palace was bred in Kentucky by her owner, Summerhill Farm, and is out of the Scat Daddy mare, Scattering Mink. She hails from the immediate family of Graded Stakes winners Dynaslew (G2 Ballston Spa Stakes) and Palmeiro (G3 All American Handicap).
Palace Malice, who is standing his second season at Darley Japan, has recently been represented by the outstanding Jantar Mantar, winner of both the G1 NHK Mile Cup and G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes in 2024 and Noble Roger, winner of the G3 Nikkan Sports Sho Shinzan Kinen.
