Malathaat | Horse Racing Free Tips

Pletcher Sophs Work Towards Belmont Day Spots

A trio of 3-year-olds from the barn of Todd Pletcher took to the Belmont dirt training track Friday morning as they prepare for stakes engagements during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), who defeated GI Preakness S. hopeful Early Voting (Gun Runner) in the GII Wood Memorial S. Apr. 9 ahead of a closing fifth in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7, breezed a half-mile in the company of his GI Central Bank Ashland S.-winning stable companion Nest (Curlin) in :50.02. Owned by Donegal Racing and Repole Stable, Mo Donegal is pointing for the GI Belmont S. June 11, while Nest is under consideration for a start against the boys in the 'Test of the Champion.' Nest's sire was famously defeated by the Pletcher-trained Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) in the 2007 Belmont.

“It was a good maintenance breeze,” said Pletcher's New York-based assistant Byron Hughes. “They both were moving well and galloped out well. They were on even terms throughout and we were happy with the breeze.”

'TDN Rising Star' Wit (Practical Joke) went five furlongs in the company of fellow 'Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) in 1:01.58 Friday morning. Wit most recently returned from a six-month break to take out the GII Bay Shore S. by a nose Apr. 9 and will remain at the seven-furlong distance for the GI Woody Stephens S. on Belmont S. day. Malathaat also made a victorious return to action in Keeneland's GIII Baird Doubledogdare S. Apr. 22, besting Friday's GII DuPont Distaff romper Super Quick (Super Saver), and faces a mouthwatering matchup with champion Letruska (Super Saver) in the GI Ogden Phipps S. the same afternoon.

“Both are good breeze horses and made a good matchup,” Hughes said. “They went head-and-head throughout in 1:01 and change and had a good, solid gallop out.”

Highland Chief On to Manhattan…

Highland Chief (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who caused a 19-1 upset in the May 14 GI Man o' War S., is likely to make his next appearance on the Belmont S. undercard in the GI Manhattan S.

“I think we'll point to the Manhattan if he's doing well,” trainer Graham Motion said. “The timing is right and I don't have a concern whatsoever about the mile and a quarter for him. I think he's pretty tactical and I think we're certainly going to keep him over here and not consider taking him over to England anytime soon. It had been mentioned to me before the race, but after we all got together, I think we'll keep him for an American campaign.

BC Champ Possible for Met…

Trainer Wayne Catalano has told the NYRA racing office that his GI Breeders' Cup Sprint hero Aloha West (Hard Spun) could make the trip to the Big Apple for the GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. June 11. The Maryland-bred 5-year-old made his seasonal debut in the GI Churchill Downs S. May 7, finishing third behind Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) and Reinvestment Risk (Upstart).

“He went on the dead rail and got pushed a little early,” Catalano said. “It was a tough race. The only horse that went up the rail the last eighth of the mile was the Derby winner [Rich Strike]. From what I saw, everyone else was on the middle of the racetrack.”

The Met is also likely to attract undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit) and GI Carter H. hero Speaker's Corner (Street Sense).

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Champion Malathaat Returns a Winner at Keeneland

Champion and 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (f, 4, Curlin–Dreaming of Julia, by A.P. Indy), last seen rallying for third in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar Nov. 6, kicked off her 4-year-old campaign with a hard-fought win as the 1-5 favorite in Friday's GIII Baird Doubledogdare S. at Keeneland.

Drawn on the fence in this six-horse affair, she was guided out and into the clear in the two path by John Velazquez rounding the clubhouse turn. Fourth heading down the backstretch, Malathaat began to edge closer rounding the far turn and made a three-wide bid at the top of the short stretch. She took over shortly thereafter, hung on her left lead in the lane, switched over close to home and had a 3/4-of-a-length over Bonny South (Munnings) at the wire. Super Quick (Super Saver) and Lady Mystify (Bernardini) dead-heated for third.

Malathaat's championship 2021 campaign included wins in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. at Keeneland, GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Alabama S. and a close second in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks.

“She got some time off at Shadwell after the Breeders' Cup and they did a great job with her–she came in looking super,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We didn't want to overdo it for her first start of the year, and we had it in the back of our minds not only that she won the Ashland here, but [this year's] Breeders' Cup is here as well.”

Pletcher added, “[Velazquez] thought he was a little too far back and then all of a sudden, he got there, maybe a little sooner than he expected, but she was all class in the end.”

Pedigree Notes:

Malathaat is the second foal from her dam, the 2012 GI Frizette S. winner who romped by 21 3/4 lengths in the GII Gulfstream Oaks, but could do no better than a troubled fourth as the favorite to upset-minded stablemate Princess of Sylmar (Majestic Warrior) in the GI Kentucky Oaks.

Second dam Dream Rush won the GI Darley Test S. in 2007 and was subsequently sold to Halsey Minor for $3.3 million at that year's Fasig-Tipton November Sale. She remained in training into early 2009, but was retired and covered by A.P. Indy for her first cover. Dreaming of Julia was foaled Mar. 3, 2010, and Dream Rush would go on to produce SW 'TDN Rising Star' Atreides (Medaglia d'Oro) and MGSW 'Rising Star' Dream Pauline (Tapit).

Malathaat is one of any number of top-class runners bred on the Curlin-A.P. Indy cross, which includes Grade I winners Stellar Wind, Global Campaign, Paris Lights and Idol.

Dreaming of Julia is the dam of a 2-year-old full-sister to Malathaat, a Medaglia d'Oro yearling filly and a filly by Curlin of this year.

Friday, Keeneland
BAIRD DOUBLEDOGDARE S.-GIII, $300,000, Keeneland, 4-22, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:44.58, ft.
1–MALATHAAT, 118, f, 4, by Curlin
                1st Dam: Dreaming of Julia (GISW, $874,500), by A.P. Indy
                2nd Dam: Dream Rush, by Wild Rush
                3rd Dam: Turbo Dream, by Unbridled
'TDN Rising Star' ($1,050,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Shadwell
Stable; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Todd
Pletcher; J-John R. Velazquez. $183,675. Lifetime Record:
Champion 3yo Filly & MGISW, 9-7-1-1, $1,918,825.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Bonny South, 118, m, 5, Munnings–Touch the Star, by Tapit.
O/B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $59,250.
(DH) 3–Super Quick, 120, f, 4, Super Saver–Quick Town, by
Cape Town. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
O-Marylou Whitney Stables (Hendrickson); B-Marylou Whitney
Stables LLC (KY); T-Norm W. Casse. $22,219.
(DH) 3–Lady Mystify, 118, f, 4, Bernardini–J. Quirk, by
Unbridled's Song. ($120,000 Ylg '19 OBSOCT; $325,000 2yo '20
OBSAPR). O-Exline-Border Racing LLC, SAF Racing and
Hausman, Richard; B-Scott Dilworth & Evan Dilworth (KY);
T-Peter Eurton. $22,219.
Margins: 3/4, 1, 2HF, 2HF. Odds: 0.30, 3.70, 38.80, 13.70.
Also Ran: Audrey's Time, Crazy Beautiful.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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KTOB Announces 2021 Kentucky-Bred Champions

Recipients of the 2021 KTOB Kentucky-Bred Champion awards were voted on by the full membership of KTA/KTOB and revealed Wednesday. In existence since 1967 and 1983, respectively, the KTOB and KTA direct their efforts toward promoting and protecting the Thoroughbred industry by maintaining the highest levels of racing, breeding and training standards in the Commonwealth. Here are the 2021 Kentucky-Bred Champions and their breeders:
• Broodmare of the Year: Indian Miss (Owner: OXO Equine LLC)
• Horse of the Year, Three-Year-Old Male: Essential Quality (Godolphin)
• Two-Year-Old Male: Corniche (Bart Evans & Stonehaven Steadings)
• Two-Year-Old Filly: Echo Zulu (Betz/J. Betz/Burns/CHNNHK/Magers/CoCo Equine/Ramsby)
• Three-Year-Old Filly: Malathaat (Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC)
• Older Dirt Male: Maxfield (Godolphin)
• Older Dirt Female: Letruska (St. George Stables)
• Male Turf Horse: Colonel Liam (Phillips Racing Partnership)
• Female Turf Horse: War Like Goddess (Calumet Farm)
• Male Sprinter: Jackie's Warrior (J & J Stables)
• Female Sprinter: Ce Ce (Bo Hirsch, LLC)
• Racing Abroad: Mystic Guide (Godolphin)
• Steeplechase Horse: Snap Decision (Phipps Stable)

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Deja Vu All Over Again In the Ashland

If you think you've heard this story before, it's because you have.

On the opening weekend of the 2021 spring meeting at historic Keeneland, trainer Todd Pletcher led over a filly by leading sire Curlin out of an A.P. Indy mare in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. A little more than 102 seconds later, 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat was being unsaddled and 27 days later, was getting her picture taken after the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks. The high-profile connections of Nest (Curlin) will certainly be hoping that lightning strikes twice after the bay filly blew the doors off her rivals in the opening-day feature, establishing herself as a top-three chance in what shapes a very competitive renewal of the Oaks four weeks and about 70 miles away down Interstate 64.

Indeed, Nest was campaigned on a near-identical schedule to Malathaat last season, winning her maiden going long at first asking in September (Malathaat graduated over seven furlongs in early October) before adding the Tempted S. and the GII Demoiselle S. Unlike her year-older stablemate who raced off the layoff in the Ashland, Nest was given a single lead-up run and she delivered in spades, outclassing her rivals by a half-dozen lengths in the Feb. 12 Suncoast S. at Tampa.

Narrowly favored in the Ashland at 17-10, Nest was away only fairly, but was asked for a bit of speed by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and that enabled her to get out into the clear, albeit four wide at the entrance to the clubhouse turn. Chief market rival Interstatedaydream (Classic Empire) showed the way in advance of the stretching-out Happy Soul (Runhappy), with Awake At Midnyte (Nyquist) not far away through even fractions. The latter launched a middle move to join the top two passing the half-mile pole, but Nest had the trio covered and tugged her way up outside to make more or less a line of four at the third corner. Interstatedaydream took them into the final three-eighths of a mile, as Happy Soul began to retreat, but Nest ranged up four deep at the 2 1/2-furlong pole traveling well despite the ground concession. Held together into the stretch, Nest was shaken up and stamped her authority on the race, drawing clear with every stride to prove a much-the-best winner. Cocktail Moments (Uncle Mo) rallied late to just beat out Interstatedaydream for second.

“Irad got her into a good, comfortable rhythm going down the backside, and we didn't want anyone to get away from us with the short run to the finish line,” said Pletcher, who–remarkably–had not won the Ashland until last year. “I knew when he had her revved up she was doing it pretty easily. Then she kicked on down the lane and he wrapped up on her late. So it was everything we could have hoped for.

The Hall of Famer added, “She's a filly that's improved all the time. We've always felt like as she matured and the races got longer, she was going to get better. I really liked the way she's been training since the Suncoast. She's just kept getting better and better.”

Pedigree Notes:

Nest, a full-sister to GI Santa Anita H. hero Idol, is the 17th top-level winner for her outstanding sire and is bred on the wildly successful cross over the legendary A.P. Indy that has also supplied Grade I winner and current WinStar stallion Global Campaign and GSW 'TDN Rising Star' First Captain, a live chance in Saturday's GI Carter H. at Aqueduct. Including mares tracing back to Seattle Slew, Curlin has also been responsible for Grade I winners Stellar Wind (champion), Classic winner Exaggerator, Clairiere, Paris Lights and Off the Tracks.

Nest's second dam is the talented Andujar, a Grade II winner and Grade I-placed in California and New York, who once sold for $2.5 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale. She was also the dam of SW & GSP Abstraction (Pulpit).

Marion Ravenwood was acquired by the Lysters' Ashview Farm for $400,000 in foal to Pioneerof the Nile at Keeneland November in 2017. That produce would go on to race for Pletcher as Dr Jack, third to Mandaloun in last year's Pegasus S. at Monmouth Park. Marion Ravenwood is the dam of the 2-year-old colt Lost Ark (Violence)–a $275,000 KEESEP yearling–was barren to City of Light last year and was most recently covered by Curlin and Quality Road.

Friday, Keeneland
CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND S.-GI, $587,488, Keeneland, 4-8, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:44.16, wf.
1–NEST, 121, f, 3, by Curlin
1st Dam: Marion Ravenwood (SW, $112,598), by A.P. Indy
2nd Dam: Andujar, by Quiet American
3rd Dam: Nureyev's Best, by Nureyev
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($350,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and House, Michael; B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $358,050. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-1, $623,050. *Full to Idol, GISW, $416,964. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Cocktail Moments, 121, f, 3, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: River Maid (Ch. Female Sprinter-Can, GSW,$442,909), by Where's the Ring
2nd Dam: Rivermaid Dancing, by Riverman
3rd Dam: Perky Dancer, by Green Dancer
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($135,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $190,000 Ylg'20 KEESEP; $245,000 RNA 2yo '21 OBSMAR). O-Dixiana Farms LLC; B-Mark Stansell (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $115,500.
3–Interstatedaydream, 121, f, 3, by Classic Empire
1st Dam: Babcock, by Uncle Mo
2nd Dam: Captivating, by Arch
3rd Dam: Andrea Ruckus, by Bold Ruckus
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($105,000 Ylg '20 KEEJAN; $130,000 Ylg'20 KEESEP; $175,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Flurry Racing Stables LLC; B-William D. Graham (ON); T-Brad H. Cox. $48,125.
Margins: 8 1/4, NO, 2 3/4. Odds: 1.70, 9.30, 1.90.
Also Ran: Awake At Midnyte, Sterling Silver, Happy Soul, Miss Mattie B, Heavenly Hellos.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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