Breeders’ Cup Distaff Winner Malathaat Officially Retired; No Mating Plans Yet Decided

Winner by a nose of this year's dramatic edition of the Breeders' Cup Distaff, 4-year-old Curlin filly Malathaat has officially been retired to Shadwell's broodmare band, reports bloodhorse.com. No mating plans have yet been determined for the $3.7 million earner.

“We went out on a high,” farm manager Gregory Clarke told bloodhorse.com. “She'll go to a proven, top stallion.”

Malathaat was a $1.05 million yearling purchase at the Keeneland September sale, one of the last purchases made by the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and raced by his daughter, Sheikha Hissa Hamdan. She is out of the Grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia, bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Stables.

The top wins on her resume include the G1 Ashland, G1 Kentucky Oaks, G1 Alabama, G1 Personal Ensign, G1 Spinster, and the G1 Breeders' Cup Distaff. Overall, Malathaat won 10 of her 14 career starts for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. She was named champion 3-year-old filly in 2021, and appears likely to earn Older Dirt Female Eclipse Award for 2022.

“She's just been a gift to us from the get-go,” Clarke told bloodhorse.com. “She kept the flag flying for us at a low time after Sheikh Hamdan passed. It was really wonderful, what she accomplished. He wasn't there himself in person, but I'm sure he was looking down. It was a great experience.”