Rob Atras | Horse Racing Free Tips

Maracuja Upsets Malathaat In CCA Oaks

With a perfect five-for-five record topped by an impressive score in the GI Kentucky Oaks, 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) was bet like she could not lose a four-horse renewal of Saratoga's GI Coaching Club American Oaks Saturday. However, in the final strides of the nine-furlong event, it was the longest shot on the board, 14-1 shot Maracuja (Honor Code), who dethroned the mighty Malathaat with a narrow upset.

All four broke in tandem with Malathaat assuming a narrow lead rounding the clubhouse turn. Maracuja kept the favorite honest through an opening quarter in :23.38 with second-choice Clairiere (Curlin) and Rockpaperscissors (Distorted Humor) just off their heels. Clairiere moved into second with Maracuja shuffled back to a joint third as the half went in :47.13. Rockpaperscissors called it a day at the three-eighths pole, quickly backing up, while Maracuja kicked into high gear, setting her sights on the top two.

Malathaat and Clairiere turned for home together with Maracuja ranging up menacingly two paths to their outside. Malathaat dug deep to maintain her narrow advantage on the fence as her two foes continued to give her hell. Surprisingly, it was Clairiere who was first to wave the white flag with just over a sixteenth left to run, leaving the shortest and longest shots on the board to fight it out. Malathaat and Maracuja battled stride-for-stride to the wire with the latter finding an extra burst in the shadow of the wire, forging ahead just in time to deny the chalk by a head. Clairiere held third and Rockpaperscissors was eased and walked off.

It was the first Grade I victory for trainer Rob Atras, who earned his first graded win earlier this year. It was also the first graded/Grade I score for owner Beach Haven Thoroughbreds, who also campaigned MSW and New York-bred champion Newly Minted (Central Banker).

“She broke really sharp, which I was happy with, and she was kind of right there,” said Atras. “They all seemed like they were coming and I thought Ricardo [Santana, Jr.] made a smart move by backing off and coming around the outside. What a race.”

“It was nerve-racking, especially after coming in seventh in the Oaks, but it was exciting,” said John Sakkos, founding partner of Beach Haven Thoroughbreds. “I was just hoping we would perform better than the Oaks. She had been doing well and Rob and the team have done a phenomenal job with her. She had a good rest after the Oaks. We'll probably go to the [GI] Alabama [S. Aug. 21] after this.”

As for the beaten favorite, Hall of Famer John Velazquez said, “You have to play the cards you're dealt. She was doing great. She was comfortable in what she was doing, but she had to fight the whole way around and obviously set it up for somebody else. She's a great horse and you can't take that away from her.”

Graduating at third asking in a 6 1/2-panel event at Aqueduct Feb. 21, Maracuja finished second behind eventual Oaks runner-up and GI Acorn S. winner Search Results (Flatter) in that venue's GIII Gazelle S. Apr. 3. The form of that race was further flattered by third-place finisher Army Wife (Declaration of War), who went on to win both the May 14 GII Black-Eyed Susan S. and the July 2 GIII Iowa Oaks. Maracuja closed from well back to be seventh when last seen in the Apr. 30 Kentucky Oaks.

Pedigree Notes:

Maracuja is the second Grade I winner, third graded victor and sixth black-type scorer for her young sire Honor Code. She is also the 28th Grade I victor, 101st graded winner and 192nd black-type scorer for top broodmare sire Unbridled's Song. The A.P. Indy/Unbridled's Song cross is also responsible for MGISW Moonshine Memories (Malibu Moon), GISW Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon) and G1SW Capezzano (Bernardini). The winner's dam Patti's Regal Song is a half-sister to GSW Regally Appealing (Valid Appeal), who is the dam of MGSW & GISP Appealing Tale (Tale of the Cat) and SW Colerful Bride (Munnings). She is also a half to SW Regal Miss Copelan (Copelan), who produced MGSW sire Rockport Harbor (Unbridled's Song). Patti's Regal Song's ecent produce includes a yearling filly by Twirling Candy and a 2021 filly by Sir Prancealot (Ire). She was bred back to that stallion.

Saturday, Saratoga
COACHING CLUB AMERICAN OAKS-GI, $465,000, Saratoga, 7-24, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:49.29, ft.
1–MARACUJA, 121, f, 3, by Honor Code
1st Dam: Patti's Regal Song (SP), by Unbridled's Song
2nd Dam: Regal Pennant, by Banner Bob
3rd Dam: Regal Relation, by Kamaraan II
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($200,000 Ylg '19 FTSAUG). O-Beach Haven Thoroughbreds LLC; B-River Bend Farm Inc, Austin & Janie Musselman (KY); T-Rob Atras; J-Ricardo Santana Jr. $275,000. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-1, $407,100. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Malathaat, 121, f, 3, 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 A Pletcher. $100,000.
3–Clairiere, 121, f, 3, by Curlin
1st Dam: Cavorting (MGISW, $2,063,000), by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Promenade Girl, by Carson City
3rd Dam: Promenade Colony, by Pleasant Colony
O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen. $60,000.
Margins: HD, 5 3/4, 52 3/4. Odds: 14.70, 0.30, 2.80.
Also Ran: Rockpaperscissors. 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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Atras Considering Next Starts For Maracuja, Chateau

Rob Atras is in third position in the trainer standings with a record of 69-15-11-11 heading into Sunday's card – Day 32 of the 48-day Belmont Park spring / summer meet. Belmont Park is located in Elmont, N.Y.

While four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown leads the way with 26 wins, Atras is just three wins back of second-place trainer Christophe Clement [18 wins from 81 starts] and three victories ahead of Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher [12 wins from 74 starts].

“Like everyone, we've had good runs and bad runs but it's great to be in the same category as those guys for number of wins at this particular meet,” said Atras. “We've tried to focus on quality over quantity, but both have risen. We didn't have this many horses last year and now we're up to 50 with more coming in.”

The 36-year-old conditioner saddled Dennis Narlinger's Sadie Lady to a front-running score in Saturday's $100,000 Dancin Renee Stakes, a six-furlong main track sprint for older New York-bred fillies and mares.

The 5-year-old daughter of Freud, bred in the Empire State by JMJ Racing Stables, demonstrated a nose for the wire last season winning 4-of-7 starts. The speedy mare won the six-furlong Correction by a head in March at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, N.Y. and followed with a strong second in the Grade 3 Vagrancy Stakes on May 8 at Belmont Park.

Atras said Sadie Lady, who matched a career-best 85 Beyer for her Dancin Renee score, came out of the race in good order.

“She's great this morning. I'm very happy with her performance,” said Atras. “She had strong early speed and that's her weapon. It unfolded for her very well yesterday.

“She's continued to stay in form,” Atras added. “Last year, she didn't come to Belmont 100 percent and had little nagging issues, nothing serious, so we just gave her some time off.”

Atras has yet to consider the next start for Sadie Lady, but stakes options on the NYRA calendar include the $200,000 Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on July 24 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and the Union Avenue Handicap, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for state-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on August 19.

Beach Haven Thoroughbreds' Maracuja covered a half-mile in 49.75 seconds in company with Olliemyboy, an allowance-winning 4-year-old Ontario-bred colt, on Sunday on the Belmont main track. The breeze followed a sharp half-mile in :48.46 last Sunday on Big Sandy.

“She breezed a nice half and galloped out five-eighths. It was similar to last week but not quite as fast,” said Atras. “It was a strong, progressive half in company with Olliemyboy. They matched strides throughout.”

The Kentucky-bred daughter of Honor Code graduated at third asking in a maiden allowance sprint on February 21 at the Big A before closing to finish second to Search Results in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Gazelle in April at the same track.

Maracuja exited that effort to finish a rallying seventh after a poor start from an inside draw in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on April 30 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, K.Y.

“It wasn't the result we were looking for, but considering the poor break and getting shuffled back, she passed quite a few horses late and was really rolling. With a better break, she might have been fourth or fifth,” said Atras.

Atras said Maracuja will target the $250,000 Grade 2 Mother Goose Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile test for sophomore fillies, on June 26 at Belmont. It would mark the first start for the improving filly over Big Sandy.

“That's what we're trying to pointing towards,” said Atras. “Her last few works have been over the main track. We're trying to get her used to it and I think she'll like the big, sweeping turns.

“If she can have a little better start, she can probably sit a little closer if she needs to,” Atras added. “I think the one turn will be good for her, too. She's fine around two turns but in the Oaks there's not a lot of run to get to the first turn and getting out of the gate good there and getting position is key.”

Atras will have to find a new jockey for Maracuja with her regular rider, Kendrick Carmouche, out for up to 10 weeks with a broken ankle.

“We've been together for a lot of victories and it definitely hurt when he went down,” said Atras. “Kendrick was having a good year and hit a lot of milestones recently winning his first Grade 1 [aboard True Timber in the Cigar Mile]. Hopefully, he'll be back soon.”

Michael Dubb's Chateau breezed early Sunday with an eye towards a start at the Saratoga summer meet.

“The stakes there tend to get pretty salty. I'm not sure which way we're going to go just yet,” said Atras. “Six is a real good distance for him, but we'll see. I'll talk to Mike this week and make a plan for him.”

The 6-year-old Flat Out gelding, who boasts a record of 35-7-10-8 with purse earnings of $525,769, has made his last three starts in graded company, led by a score in the six-furlong Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap in March at Aqueduct.

The dark bay faded to fourth in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Carter Handicap in April at Aqueduct, but stayed on for second last out after setting the pace in the six-furlong Grade 3 Runhappy Stakes won by Firenze Fire on May 8 at Belmont.

The Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up, is slated for July 31 at the Spa.

Sanford J. Goldfarb, Irwin Goldfarb, and the Estate of Ira Davis' American Power finished an even third last out in the Grade 2 True North Stakes that saw graded stakes-winning millionaires Firenze Fire and Flagstaff run one-two on June 4 at Belmont.

“Considering who he ran against, I think it was a good effort by him,” said Atras. “Those two got out front and the track was kind of playing that way and they did what they needed to do.”

The 6-year-old son of Power Broker made the grade in the Grade 3 Toboggan Stakes in January at the Big A and followed with a score in the Caixa Eletronica Stakes at the same distance and track in March.

Atras said American Power has come out of the True North in good order, but has no specific target.

“I gave him a little two-minute lick this morning and he did good,” said Atras. “He's come out of the race well. He's another horse, like Chateau, that's tough to spot. Six and a half furlongs is not quite his best distance. He doesn't have that sprint speed to be up there, so seven-to-a-mile is what we'll look for going forward.”

Musical Heart, owned by Dubb and Michael J. Caruso, faltered to ninth last out in the 12-furlong Grade 2 Brooklyn Invitational Stakes presented by Northwell Health on Belmont Stakes Day.

The 6-year-old Maclean's Music gelding, claimed for $62,500 in November, captured the 11-furlong Flat Out on April 30 at Belmont.

“It was maybe a little too soon back off the race before and maybe a bit too far,” said Atras of the Brooklyn effort. “I don't think he wants to go that far, but you just don't know until you try it. We're thinking about Saratoga with him, too. We don't have a race in mind but probably at a mile and an eighth.”

Robert Bone's Nice Ace worked five-eighths in 1:01.90 on the main track Sunday. The sophomore son of Noble Mission, bred in Pennsylvania by Blackstone Farm, graduated at second asking for former conditioner Tim Girten over the Presque Isle Downs synthetic in September ahead of a runner-up effort in the Fitz Dixon Memorial Juvenile Stakes in October at the same track.

Nice Ace, who finished off the board in his last two starts, is nominated to make his 3-year-old debut in the $125,000 Woodstock Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for sophomores on the Woodbine Tapeta slated for June 20.

“He worked well this morning. I'm not sure which direction we'll go with him just yet,” said Atras. “We have him nominated to the Woodstock and we have tentative plans to go up there, but we're not 100 percent committed yet. I'll have to speak to the owner and see what we want to do with him.”

Atras said Nice Ace will likely get a chance to try turf this season.

“He is quite fast. They tried a few different things with him last year and he was most effective on the synthetic,” said Atras. “We wanted to try the turf here; there was an allowance race that didn't fill. He also might stretch out a little bit. He's a tall horse with a nice stride on him but we wanted to start him out sprinting.”

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Sadie Lady Sails To Easy Win In Dancin Renee Stakes

Saturday's featured race at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. was one for the Ladies, with Sadie Lady at 7-5 surging to the front and outkicking 6-5 favorite Fierce Lady in a gate-to-wire, 1 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Dancin Renee Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares 4-years-old and up contesting at six furlongs.

The eighth edition of the Dancin Renee saw Dennis Narlinger's Sadie Lady, ridden by Jose Ortiz, break sharp and go to the front, leading the five-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 22.79 seconds and the half-mile in 45.61 on the fast main track.

Sadie Lady was challenged in the stretch by Fierce Lady, but had enough in reserve to win for the third time in four starts, completing the sprint in 1:11.05 for trainer Rob Atras.

Ortiz, who notched his third win on the card, rode Sadie Lady for the first time and earned his third victory in the Dancin Renee [Clear Pasaj in 2013 and La Verdad in 2015].

“When we passed the half-mile pole, she switched to her left lead and she kind of went on her own,” Ortiz said. “I knew I had enough room to wait, but she went on her own. It was hard to take that momentum away from her. I just let her do her thing and use her speed and she used it well. I was happy with how she carried on. She ran a very good race. Her speed is her weapon.”

The Freud mare won for the second time in three starts to commence her 5-year-old campaign. She bested Call On Mischief by a head in the Correction going the Dancin Renee distance in her seasonal bow in March at Aqueduct and followed with a runner-up effort last out in the Grade 3 Vagrancy Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs last month at Belmont.

Sadie Lady, running back in a restricted stakes, posted her first victory at Belmont since winning her career debut in September 2018.

“I know she's very fast and she's actually cleared quite easily in her other races,” Atras said. “I was a little concerned that Ruvies in Time might challenge us out of the gate, but she [Sadie Lady] broke so sharp and Jose just let her roll out of there and everything went to plan.”

Sadie Lady, bred by JMJ Racing Stables, improved her career earnings to $406,232. She returned $4.90 on a $2 win wager.

“She's a really cool filly and likes to win,” Atras said. “She's not easy in the morning and the exercise rider does a really good job with her.”

Fierce Lady, owned by Nice Guys Stables and Steve Hornstock, earned a placing in her first stakes appearance since January 2020, besting Ruvies in Time by a half-length for second. The Brittany Russell trainee, bred by Sugar Maple Farm, returned from a nearly six-month layoff to win against optional claimers last out in May at Belmont and recorded her best stakes performance since running second in the 2019 Joseph A. Gimma Stakes.

“I thought there would be more pace. The plan was to come flying at the end, but the winner went to the lead and had it easy,” said Fierce Lady jockey Luis Saez.

Espresso Shot and Eloquent Speaker completed the order of finish. Good Credence scratched.

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Pletcher To Saddle Potent One-Two Punch In Brooklyn Invitational

Trainer Todd Pletcher will be well-represented with three contenders in Saturday's Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. But the Hall of Fame conditioner will also send out a strong contingent in another 1 1/2-mile graded stakes contest on the day, with Ajaaweed and Moretti forming a potent one-two punch in the Grade 2, $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational presented by Northwell Health for 4-year-olds and up.

Carded as Race 4 on the 13-race slate, the 134th running of the Brooklyn is part of a sensational card on Saturday at Belmont Park that includes nine graded stakes and eight Grade 1 events, making it the only Grade 2 race on the Breeders' Cup-quality program.

Pletcher, who won last year's Brooklyn edition with Marconi, has a strong chance for repeat success with Shadwell Stable's homebred Ajaaweed, who improved suddenly last out in the Flat Out on April 30 over Big Sandy.

Ajaaweed showed potential when starting his career in former trainer Kiaran McLaughlin's barn as a 2-year-old in 2019 before he abruptly fell off the Kentucky Derby Trail in early 2020.

The Curlin colt was given an 11-month respite, returning in January at Gulfstream Park for Pletcher. His first back featured an eighth-place finish, beaten 26 ½ lengths in a one-mile optional claimer, on January 31. His fortunes didn't improve much in his next start at Aqueduct Racetrack, where he was again beaten double-digit lengths on March 14. But everything changed once he was stretched out to 1 3/8 miles in the Flat Out, as he closed strongly in the stretch to nearly overtake Musical Heart before settling for second.

“He gave us that impression he would do well with some added distance,” Pletcher said of Ajaaweed, who earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure for his Flat Out performance. “He just keeps galloping. He was coming on strong there in the end, he just got up there a little too late. Hopefully, we identified what he really wants to do.”

With Ajaaweed being a potential up-and-comer at marathon distances, the other half of the Pletcher's duo, Moretti, brings much-needed experience to the table for owners Repole Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbreds.

The 5-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro hasn't run since August 2 of last year, when he won the 1 3/4-mile Birdstone at Saratoga Race Course, though his proficiency at longer distances is well-documented. Coincidentally, it was actually in the 2020 edition of the Flat Out that Moretti first showed an affinity for marathons. He won the 1 3/8-mile race by 5 ¼ lengths and followed with a second-place finish in the Grade 2, 1 1/4-mile Suburban before his year came to a premature end in the Birdstone.

“I think this is what he does best,” Pletcher said. “It's a tall order to run a mile and a half off the long layoff. I hope we have him fit enough. I like the way he breezed on Friday; he galloped out nice and strong so hopefully that's got him nice and cranked up.”

Ajaaweed and Moretti will break from posts 7 and 6, respectively, with Hall of Famer John Velazquez and Irad Ortiz, Jr. set to ride.

The winner of the Flat Out, Musical Heart, will also be back for more in the Brooklyn. A $62,500 claim by trainer Rob Atras and owners Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso on November 13 of last year, Musical Heart had been knocking on the door in stakes company for his new connections until his breakthrough finally came in the Flat Out, which he won in wire-to-wire fashion by three-quarters of a length with a 99 Beyer. The 6-year-old son of Maclean's Music will break from post 5 with Kendrick Carmouche aboard.

The Brooklyn additionally attracted a few out-of-town shippers to spice up an eclectic lineup of older dirt horses. Chief among these runners is the 4-year-old Tizamagician, who hails from California and enters the race off a dominant, nine-length win in the Grade 3 Tokyo City on April 18 at Santa Anita Park.

A Tiznow colt trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella for MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm, Tizamagician has really come to hand in 2021, with a win in an optional claimer to begin the year and runner-up finish in the Grade 2 San Pasqual to go along with his coming-out party in the 1 ½-mile Tokyo City. He will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post 8.

Joining Tizamagician from the West Coast is veteran marathoner Campaign, who's had a down 2021 thus far but is a two-time graded stakes-winner at the distance and missed by less than a length in this race in 2019. Trained by John Sadler for Woodford Racing, Campaign will break from post 3 with Luis Saez in the irons as he looks to bounce back following a distant fourth-place finish in an optional claimer at Oaklawn Park on April 11.

“He's coming into it well,” Sadler said. “We're adding the blinkers for this race. He's trained well with them on at Santa Anita. Two years ago, he was right there and just got beat, so we're going back. The big wide turns and the distance should suit him.”

Ubiquitous horseman Robertino Diodoro will be represented by Lone Rock, another shipper that appears well meant in this spot. Reminiscent of Musical Heart, Lone Rock was claimed by Diodoro and owner Flying P Stable for $40,000 last fall at Churchill Downs, and the 6-year-old gelding has been terrific in 2021, particularly at 12 furlongs.

Three starts ago, Lone Rock just missed in the 1 1/2-mile Temperence Hill at Oaklawn Park, and he's since rattled off two victories at this distance, including an open-length score last out in the Marathon Overnight on April 27 at Churchill Downs. Lone Rock will again be ridden by Ramon Vazquez, who has been aboard for his last two wins, and the duo will depart from the outermost post 9.

Rounding out the field for the Brooklyn are Ry's the Guy and You're to Blame, second and fourth, respectively, last out in the Marathon Overnight, and Rocketry, a salty older marathoner for trainer Jimmy Jerkens who finished third in the Flat Out in his most recent outing.

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