Shadwell Stable's undefeated Malathaat recorded her first breeze since capturing the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks with a half-mile move on Thursday morning over the Belmont Park main track for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
Under mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the low 60s at the Elmont, N.Y., track, the daughter of Curlin out of Grade 1-winner Dreaming of Julia travelled the four-furlong distance in 49.89 over a fast main track under Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez in company with stablemate and fellow Shadwell color bearer Mahaamel.
“She breezed well,” said Pletcher's assistant trainer Byron Hughes. “Johnny worked her and was happy with the way she went. We had her in company with Mahaamel and they both went head-and-head and both looked good. We just wanted her moving well and doing it well within herself and she accomplished all of that.”
Undefeated in five starts, Malathaat gave Velazquez his 2,000th Belmont Park victory in her debut last October before notching stakes wins in the Tempted and Grade 2 Demoiselle at Aqueduct. She parlayed her winning form into her sophomore campaign with a victory in the Grade 1 Ashland on April 3 at Keeneland.
Mahaamel, by Into Mischief and out of the graded stakes winning Bustin Stones mare Hot Stones, earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure in her runner-up effort to First Captain in her April 24 debut sprinting seven furlongs on Big Sandy. She was purchased for $700,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
A next start for Malathaat has still yet to be decided.
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