Undefeated divisional leader Malathaat (Curlin) headlines a four-horse renewal of Saratoga's prestigious GI Coaching Club American Oaks Saturday. A perfect five-for-five, the 'TDN Rising Star' kicked off 2021 with a gutsy score in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. at Keeneland Apr. 3 and rallied to victory in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks last out Apr. 30, defeating next-out GI Acorn S. heroine Search Results (Flatter) by a hard-fought neck.
“She's a very gifted filly,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “She's just been perfect so far and she's a pleasure to train, and just does everything right. When you have one that's undefeated, you just want to keep that intact and hope that everything goes smoothly and that she's able to show her capabilities once more.”
The second choice is another daughter of Curlin in Stonestreet homebred Clairiere. Winner of the GII Rachel Alexandra S. Feb. 13, the bay was second in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks Mar. 20 and was an even fourth behind Malathaat after stumbling at the break in the Run for the Lilies. She was last seen finishing third to Malathaat's stablemate Zaajel (Street Sense) in Belmont's GII Mother Goose S. June 26.
Rounding out the field is Maracuja (Honor Code), second to Search Results in the GIII Gazelle S. in April and a longshot seventh in the Oaks last out; and Rockpaperscissors (Distorted Humor), who exits a 9 3/4-length allowance score in an off-the-turf event at Indiana June 21.
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