Malathaat Exits Gutsy Oaks Victory In ‘Excellent’ Condition

“Excellent.”

That was trainer Todd Pletcher's all-encompassing answer to the question of Malathaat's condition on the morning after her gutsy run and neck victory in the Grade I Longines Kentucky Oaks Saturday at Churchill Downs.

With a national television audience taking it in, the well-made daughter of Curlin overcame early troubles, took rider John Velazquez's cues at all points and then dug down deep to win a photo finish and $713,000 in the 147th “Run for the Lilies.”

The Shadwell Stable miss now is a perfect five for five in her brief racing career, has three graded stakes on her ledger and is well on her way to millionaire status ($953,000) with a very bright future ahead.

The conditioner wasn't sure yet what the shipping plans were for his star 3-year-old miss. He said the outcome of events Saturday (read Kentucky Derby) for his four star colts would play a big factor into who, where and when would be on the road from his potent string.

“You'd like to think with a filly like (Malathaat) you can be thinking Breeders' Cup (at Del Mar in November),” Pletcher said. “But we've got a long way to go before we get there.”

SEARCH RESULTS – Trainer Chad Brown said Klaravich Stables' Search Results was a tired filly Sunday morning but was none the worse for wear after a heartbreaking and ultra-game second by a neck in the Oaks.

“We checked her out this morning and she looks fine,” Brown said. “She came back good and will ride back to New York on Monday. Right now, we'll look at the (Grade 1) Acorn and Coaching Club American Oaks; those are the two most likely things we'll discuss,” Brown said.

Search Results saw her unbeaten streak end at three but lost nothing in defeat while battling the undefeated Malathaat through the stretch. The daughter of Flatter tracked early leader and second-choice Travel Column 3-wide throughout under Irad Ortiz Jr., made first run off the far turn, and refused to yield to the winner.

“It was a huge race,” Brown said. “I watched the replay a couple of times and I thought Irad used good judgement. It was just the way it unfolded, she was parked out a little bit, and I would have preferred that we were right next to Travel Column and saved a little bit more ground on both turns it may have helped reserve a little bit of fuel. That said, the winner broke a little tardy and had to be used and was pitched out following me just as wide, so she won obviously fair and square.”

Brown was also quick to applaud Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who gave the winner a flawless ride, while showing a little gamesmanship as well.

“It was typical Johnny fashion,” Brown said. “He rode so smart to follow us, then floated us down to the inside, which is his patented move. It was a smart move. And it was a winning move. She just had a little more and she's a really good horse.”

Sitting back in his office chair in Barn 25, Brown looked back on the last 10-12 days and summarized the proceedings, while admitting the end result might have been right in front of everyone all along.

“At the end of the day, as I've learned with the Oaks and the Derby, there's a big buildup and these are fun races to analyze,” Brown said. “Then you throw into the mix that this is one of the only events where the media is actually watching these horses train every day. And there's a lot of different scenarios and projected paces and trips and opinions, and it's great. But at the end of the day, a lot of times in these big races, when you look at them the next day, it wasn't too hard to figure out; the two undefeated fillies threw down in the lane and that was the way it was probably the way it was supposed to be.”

As for the prospect of facing Malathaat again, Brown took a bit more stoic approach, while noting both fillies might go down a different path this summer, with Saratoga's 1 1/8-mile Coaching Club and 1 ¼-mile Alabama on the calendar.

“I think I'd be foolish to say I'm looking forward to running against her,” Brown joked. “I don't know if you ever want to run against great horses, especially if you have one of your own. I read this stuff sometimes, and I'm not one of these bravado guys that say 'I'm looking forward to a rematch.' I appreciate the sport, and I look forward to the challenges, but I've got a really good horse and there are races out there for all of us. And looking at Malathaat and the schedule going forward, it looks like she won't have any trouble beyond this (distance), like in the Alabama. I don't really see that in our filly's future. Coming in, we thought 1 1/8 miles was fine for our filly, and if you take the winner out, she was well clear of the others. But I don't know if Search Results will relish a mile and a quarter, so they might separate at that point. The mile and an eighth races though, I wouldn't hesitate to run her in any race I saw fit, regardless of who was running, and I say that with the utmost respect to the others.”

WILL'S SECRET – Trainer Dallas Stewart simply described his feelings of Will's Secret's third-place finish in Friday's Longines Kentucky Oaks as, “Proud.”

Stewart reported that he and owner Willis Horton will look for additional races down the road for the 3-year-old filly.

CLAIRIERE/PAULINE'S PEARL – Both of Stonestreet Stables' homebreds Clairiere and Pauline's Pearl, who were fourth and eighth, respectively, came out of the Oaks in good order and will be given a brief freshening, according to trainer Steve Asmussen's assistant Scott Blasi.

TRAVEL COLUMN/COACH – Trainer Brad Cox reported both of his Kentucky Oaks entrants Travel Column and Coach exited the 1 1/8-mile race in fine fettle.

Travel Column dueled on the lead until fading in mid-stretch while Coach ran an enigmatic ninth.

“(Travel Column) relaxed well on the front end but just didn't have that final push to continue on. I'm still not sure what ended up happening with Coach but we'll regroup and look for more options down the road.”

MILLEFEUILLE – Trainer Bill Mott said that Juddmonte's Millefeuille was fine Saturday morning, a day after finishing sixth in the Oaks after a wide trip all the way through the 1 1/8-mile test.

“There will be a race for her,” Mott said. “The first two (Malathaat and Search Results) were clearly the best yesterday. She may be able to compete with those with a good trip.”

The day was not a total loss for the Mott barn as Obligatory, who served as Millefeuille's workmate prior to the Oaks, won the Eight Belles (G2) with a last-to-first run. “We thought Obligatory is as good as the other one.”

MARACUJA – Beach Haven Thoroughbreds' Maracuja exited her seventh-place finish in the Oaks in good order and will eye a couple of Saratoga grade 1 races later this summer, according to trainer Rob Atras.

“She cooled out really good and last night she was good and relaxed when we left and ate up as well,” Atras said. “We'll go back to Belmont and regroup a little bit. We'd like to look at races like the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama at Saratoga.”

Maracuja was Atras' first starter in the Oaks, and while she may have been 37-1 on the toteboard, the daughter of Honor Code acquitted herself nicely in what was her first start away from Aqueduct.

“She ran well, I can't knock her at all,” Atras said. “We were happy to be here but we also wanted to run well, and I think she did that. She broke a little slow and that cost her some tactical position. I really think, in the Oaks and Derby, having watched them, you need to have a horse with tactical speed and she doesn't quite have that like those top fillies. But she's still learning and developing and I really think she's got a bright future.”

CRAZY BEAUTIFUL – Phoenix Thoroughbred LTD's Crazy Beautiful received a superficial cut to her left front leg during Friday's Oaks, in which she finished 10th.

“She'll be fine. It won't have any impact on her,” said Greg Geier, assistant to trainer Kenny McPeek. The team will regroup and figure out where the filly and King Fury, a scratch Friday from the Derby after he spiked a temperature, race next.

MORAZ – The dark daughter of Empire Maker reported back to Barn 37 late Saturday afternoon none the worse for wear following her front-running, but unplaced finish in the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. The filly lay second for nearly a mile in the mile and one-eighth Grade I headliner, but couldn't sustain her bid under rider Flavien Prat.

“She came out of it well,” reported assistant trainer Justin Curran. “She ate up last night and is feeling fine this morning.”

Curran wasn't sure of head trainer Michael McCarthy's shipping plans.

“She'll go back to (Southern) California (McCarthy's base) at some point but I'm not quite sure when,” Curran said.

PASS THE CHAMPAGNE – Pass the Champagne emerged from her 12th-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks in good order and was being hand walked around the barn Saturday morning by her trainer George Weaver.

“She's good,” Weaver said. “We'll get her home and make next race plans from there.”

COMPETITIVE SPEED – John Minchello's Competitive Speed is scheduled to return to her home base at Gulfstream Park on Sunday after exiting the Oaks in good order for trainer Javier Gonzalez.

No specific race has been targeted for a return to the races according to Gonzalez.

“The result was not what I wanted but it was a good experience,” Gonzalez said. “I always learn, so let's see what happens next time.”

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Kentucky Oaks Wagering Rebounds With Third-Highest Handle In History

The 147th running of the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) at Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Ky., saw Malathaat capture the Lillies in a field of 13 under sunny skies and fast track conditions in front of 41,472 spectators spread across the expansive and spacious grounds of the racetrack.

Wagering from all-sources on the full Kentucky Oaks race card totaled $54.3 million, up 76% compared to the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, which was held in September with only essential personnel in attendance. All-sources wagering on the Kentucky Oaks race was $17.4 million up 74% from last year's Kentucky Oaks race.

The total wagered on the 13-race card was almost 10% lower than the record Oaks day handle in 2019, when $60.2 million was wagered on 13 races. This year's handle was the third-highest in the history of the Oaks despite the limited on-track attendance due to COVID-19.

Malathaat, owned by Shadwell Stable and bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC, rallied from a stalking position and held off a determined filly, Search Results, to win the Longines Kentucky Oaks by a neck at odds of 5-2 in a final time of 1.48.99. This win marks the 4th Kentucky Oaks victory for trainer Todd Pletcher and the 2nd for jockey John Velazquez. Malathaat is a daughter of Curlin out of Dreaming of Julia and now has lifetime earnings of over $1.2 million.

Today we celebrate Malathaat and her connections, but also the fans who joined us to enjoy this beautiful day of racing,” said Churchill Downs President Mike Anderson. “The success of the 147th Kentucky Oaks is a tribute to the team at Churchill Downs, our community partners, sponsors and participants who worked tirelessly to ensure that we could safely and responsibly welcome back the fans that are an essential part of this great tradition.”

Churchill Downs Inc. continued the tradition of using Oaks day as a platform for the company's charitable initiatives. This year's virtual Kentucky Oaks Survivors Parade presented by Kroger with supporting partner Ford, honored survivors of breast and ovarian cancer along with honorees who are actively receiving treatment with a moving video montage accompanied by a live performance by vocalist Shea Leparoux, wife of seven-time Breeders Cup Championship jockey Julien Leparoux. The tribute was concluded with an honorary lap around the racetrack by the Norton Healthcare Mobile Prevention Unit. CDI has contributed over $1 million to charitable partnerships dedicated to the early detection and prevention of breast and ovarian cancer. The five-year charitable partnership with Louisville-based Norton Healthcare extended this year to also celebrate Norton employees who volunteered to staff a public vaccine clinic at Churchill Downs in late March and early April.

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Oaks Post Draw Monday At 11 A.M. ; Derby Draw Same Time Tuesday

Churchill Downs has released details on Monday's post position draw for the April 30 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Tuesday's draw for the May 1 Kentucky Derby (G1).

The Post Position Draw for the 147th running of the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) will be held Monday, April 26, at 11 a.m. ET in the Aristides Lounge on the second floor of Churchill Downs' Clubhouse.

The Post Position Draw for the 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) will be held Tuesday, April 27, at 11 a.m. ET in the same location.

Due to physical distancing protocols and other safety measures in place, only owners and trainers and select broadcast media will be permitted inside the Aristides Lounge for both the Oaks and Derby draws.

The Oaks and Derby post position draws are traditional “pill pull” events in which horses' entry blanks are pulled simultaneously with a numbered pill to determine what stall a horse will break from the starting gate.

Preference to the nation's premier race for 3-year-old fillies is given to the top point-earners on the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks.” Up to 18 horses may enter the 1 1/8-mile race and four horses can be listed as “also eligible” and would be ranked in order accordingly; they could draw into the field should any horse(s) be scratched before scratch time on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 9 a.m. ET.

Preference to America's greatest race is given to the top point-earners on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby.” Up to 24 three-year-olds may enter the 1 ¼-mile race and four horses can be listed as “also eligible” and would be ranked in order accordingly; they could draw into the field should any horse(s) be scratched before scratch time on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 9 a.m. ET.

Track announcer Travis Stone will host the draw, with Vice President of Racing Ben Huffman and Assistant Racing Secretary Dan Bork pulling the pills and entry slips. Kentucky Horse Racing Commission chief steward Barbara Borden will oversee the proceedings.

The Kentucky Oaks Post Position Draw will be streamed live on www.KentuckyDerby.com.

The Kentucky Derby Post Position Draw will be streamed live on www.KentuckyDerby.com from 10:45-11:45 a.m. and televised live by FS2 nationally from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET. NBC affiliate WAVE-3 in Louisville also will broadcast the draw as will other outlets.

Veteran Churchill Downs odds maker Mike Battaglia will not be present for the Oaks or Derby post position draws. This year will mark the 48th time that Battaglia has made the Oaks and Derby morning line odds.

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Oaks Notes: Asmussen ‘Ecstatic’ With Clairiere, Pauline’s Pearl In His Quest For Third Oaks Victory

Stonestreet Stables' homebreds Clairiere and Pauline's Pearl turned in half-mile works at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., to complete their major preparation for Friday's 147th running of the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Pauline's Pearl was the first to work over a main track labeled as good during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses. She was clocked in :50.60.

Clairiere followed shortly thereafter, covering the distance in :49.60. Both fillies are trained by two-time Oaks-winning conditioner Steve Asmussen.

The draw for the Longines Kentucky Oaks will take place at 11 a.m. on Monday in the Aristides Lounge.

AVA'S GRACE – Cypress Creek Equine's Ava's Grace jogged two miles under exercise rider Walter Davila at 5:30 Sunday morning over a track labeled as good.

Sunday's activity marked the first day back on the track for Ava's Grace since working a half-mile in :49.20 on Friday with jockey David Cohen aboard.

Trainer Robertino Diodoro is scheduled to be on hand at the barn Monday morning.

CLAIRIERE, PAULINE'S PEARL – Stonestreet Stables' homebreds Pauline's Pearl and Clairiere completed their final Oaks preparations Sunday morning, working four furlongs over a “good” main track in a pair of maintenance solo drills.

Pauline's Pearl, a daughter of Tapit, was up first immediately after the track opened at 7:30 for Derby and Oaks horses, and went in 50.60, with splits of :13 and :25.40 under exercise rider Wilson Fabian. Clairiere, a Curlin filly, followed about a minute behind under Angel Garcia and went in :49.60, with splits of :11.80, :23.80, while galloping out in 1:03.40. Pauline's Pearl was credited with the 22nd fastest time of 27 at the distance, while Clairiere was 10th-fastest. Some 80 minutes later, Asmussen was beaming back Barn 38.

“We're ecstatic,” Asmussen said. “Pauline's Pearl went first and my first words to Wilson were 'How did she go?' and he said 'Beautiful.' Both are regular riders of the horses so they are good measures and extremely familiar with them.”

COACH, TRAVEL COLUMN – Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) winner Travel Column and Fantasy (G3) third-place finisher Coach jogged at 7:30 a.m. with trainer Brad Cox watching from the five-eighths pole clocker stand.

“Both fillies bounced out of their work in good shape and we're ready for Friday,” Cox said. “Hopefully we get a favorable draw and we'll take our tactics from there.”

COMPETITIVE SPEED – John Minchello's Competitive Speed had a leisurely 1 ½-mile gallop under exercise rider Anthony Gallo Sunday morning for trainer Javier Gonzalez.

Competitive Speed was returning to the track for the first time since working five furlongs in 1:02.40 on Friday.

CRAZY BEAUTIFUL – Phoenix Thoroughbred LTD's Crazy Beautiful had a quiet Sunday morning at trainer Kenny McPeek's barn, walking the shedrow following her workout on Saturday. Assistant trainer Greg Geier said the filly showed no problems following the workout, and is on track for Friday's Kentucky Oaks.

On Saturday, Crazy Beautiful was clocked at :49.20 for four furlongs, with splits of :12 and :23.60, then finishing up in 1:02.60 for five furlongs.

MALATHAAT – Shadwell Stable's Malathaat, one of the likely favorites for Friday's $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks, returned to the racetrack Sunday morning following a walk day Saturday and jogged an easy mile under exercise rider Amelia Green for trainer Todd Pletcher.

The bay Curlin filly has raced four times so far in her career and gone to the winner's circle following each one. She closed out 2020 with a tally in the Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct in New York, then returned this year on April 3 at Keeneland in Lexington to get up for a head score in the Ashland (G1).

Pletcher has named Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez to handle the bay miss in the nine-furlong test that will be the 147th edition of the “Run for the Lillies.”

MARACUJA – Beach Haven Thoroughbreds' Maracuja came out of her final Oaks work in good shape and will ship to Churchill Sunday afternoon, according to trainer Rob Atras.

The daughter of Honor Code put in her final Oaks work Saturday morning at Belmont Park, going four furlongs in 48.20 in company with New York-bred stablemate Horn of Plenty. Atras plans on arriving Thursday.

MILLEFEUILLE – Juddmonte Farms' Millefeuille walked the shedrow at trainer Bill Mott's barn a day after working a best-of-29 at the distance five furlongs in :59.60.

MORAZ – Don Alberto Stable's homebred Moraz arrived at Churchill Downs shortly after noon Sunday following a flight from her Southern California base. Assistant trainer Justin Curran had a stall ready for her at Barn 37 following her flight of just more 2,000 miles.

The daughter of Empire Maker had put in her final Oaks prep with a :48.20 move Saturday morning at Santa Anita for trainer Michael McCarthy. The conditioner also scheduled a flight from L.A. Sunday and was expected to land in Louisville at some point this evening.

PASS THE CHAMPAGNE – R. A. Hill Stable, Black Type Thoroughbreds, Rock Ridge Racing, BlueRidge Stables and James Brown's Pass the Champagne galloped Sunday morning at Palm Beach Downs.

Trained by George Weaver, Pass the Champagne will begin the van trip to Churchill Downs later Sunday with an early Monday morning arrival.

SEARCH RESULTS – Klaravich Stables' Search Results returned to the track for the first time since completing her final Oaks work Friday for trainer Chad Brown. The undefeated daughter of Flatter walked the shedrow Saturday morning and jogged once around the main track, which was listed as “good.” Sunday morning. Brown indicated Search Results will resume galloping Monday morning.

WILL'S SECRET – Willis Horton's Honeybee (G2) winner Will's Secret jogged at 7:30 a.m. for trainer Dallas Stewart.

She's scheduled to gallop at the same time Monday.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY OAKS – Likely starters in the 147th running of the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on Friday, April 30, in order of preference (with possible jockey and trainer): Search Results (Irad Ortiz Jr., Chad Brown); Travel Column (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Crazy Beautiful (Jose Ortiz, Kenny McPeek); Pauline's Pearl (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen); Malathaat (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher); Clairiere (Tyler Gaffalione, Steve Asmussen); Will's Secret (Jon Court, Dallas Stewart); Millefeuille (Joel Rosario, Bill Mott); Moraz (Umberto Rispoli, Michael McCarthy); Ava's Grace (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro); Pass the Champagne (Javier Castellano, George Weaver); Maracuja (Kendrick Carmouche, Rob Atras); Competitive Speed (Chris Landeros, Javier Gonzalez); Coach (Luis Saez, Brad Cox).

Next up in order of preference: Spritz (TBA, Rodolphe Brisset).

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