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No Maybe About It: Malathaat Wins as Distaff Delivers Again

LEXINGTON, KY – The Breeders' Cup Distaff, which has produced so many memorable moments over the years, delivered yet another race for the ages as Shadwell Stable's Malathaat (Curlin) got the bob over Blue Stripe (Arg) (Equal Stripes {Arg}) and Clairiere (Curlin) in a blanket three-horse finish. The 5-2 second choice behind her favored stablemate Nest (Curlin), Malathaat was unhurried from her inside post and settled well back as Society (Gun Runner) set the pace and Blue Stripe stalked the early leader down the backstretch. Nest began moving forward while some five wide as the field began to bunch up approaching the far turn and Malathaat shadowed her stablemate, while Clairiere continued to trail. It was Secret Oath (Arrogate) who took the lead out of the turn as Nest's rally began to fizzle, but the Oaks' winner began to tire with a furlong to run, leaving Blue Stripe with the lead in deep stretch. Malathaat was charging down the center of the track to her outside and Clairiere was sneaking up the rail as the wire loomed. All three hit the wire in near unison as track announcer Kurt Becker yelled, “Malathaat…Maybe! What a finish!”

“When we first watched the race, we thought we won, but they kept showing the replay and it got closer each time,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said with a laugh. “She had a lot of momentum and I was hoping she had enough time to get there. She got her head down at the right moment.”

John Velazquez, who had the best seat in the house, also thought his filly had gotten to the wire first.

“I thought I got the bob and then I wasn't sure,” Velazquez said. “When you have that much trust from a guy like Todd Pletcher who gives me the opportunity to ride these good horses, it makes it easy when you have to make adjustments during the race.”

Of Malathaat, who has now won 10 of 13 starts, Velazquez said, “Every race she runs, she shows up. She is a tough mare and I will miss her if they retire her.”

Connections of the second and third-place finishers were justifiably proud of the efforts of their charges.

“She ran absolutely great,” said Blue Stripe's trainer Marcelo Polanco, while trainer Steve Asmussen said of Clairiere, “She ran a fabulous race. It was just inches… inches…”

The 2022 renewal will join the 2016 battle royale between Beholder and Songbird and the epic 1988 showdown between Personal Ensign and Winning Colors in the annals of Distaff history.

Malathaat won last year's GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Alabama S. before ending her sophomore season with a third-place effort in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff en route to earning year-end championship honors. Second behind Clairiere in the GI Ogden Phipps S. and GII Shuvee S. this past summer, the regally bred filly came into this year's championship weekend off wins in the Aug. 27 GI Personal Ensign S. and over the Distaff's track and trip in the Oct. 9 GI Spinster S.

Asked if Malathaat had run her last race, Shadwell manager Gregory Clarke said, “Wouldn't it be lovely if she stayed in training? But what she's accomplished is just incredible. We're just so blessed. We've gotten this far with her. She's at the top of her game. We'll see what Sheikha Hissa and the family want to do. But she's a machine. She really is. We're over the moon.”

Pedigree Notes:

Malathaat's victory gave Curlin his third winner on the Breeders' Cup card Saturday, following Elite Power's win in the Sprint and Cody's Wish's win in the Dirt Mile.

Dreaming of Julia, winner of the 2012 GI Frizette S., produced a filly by Medaglia d'Oro last year and a filly by Curlin this year. A daughter of 2007 GI Test S. winner Dream Rush and a half-sister to graded winner Dream Pauline (Tapit), she was bred back to Into Mischief.

Saturday, Keeneland
LONGINES BREEDERS' CUP DISTAFF-GI, $1,800,000, Keeneland, 11-5, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:49.07, ft.
1–MALATHAAT, 124, 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
($1,050,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Shadwell Stable; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Todd Pletcher; J-John R. Velazquez. $1,040,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 3yo Filly, 14-10-3-1, $3,790,825. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Blue Stripe (Arg), 124, m, 5, by Equal Stripes (Arg)
1st Dam: Blues for Sale (Arg) (MGSW-Arg), by Not For Sale (Arg)
2nd Dam: Key Cure, by Cure the Blues
3rd Dam: Dancer's Key, by Key to the Mint
O-Pozo de Luna, Inc.; B-La Manija (ARG); T-Marcelo Polanco. $340,000.
3–Clairiere, 124, f, 4, 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. $180,000.
Margins: NO, NO, 3 1/4. Odds: 2.88, 24.02, 6.13.
Also Ran: Nest, Secret Oath, Search Results, Society, Awake At Midnyte.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs.

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Malathaat Cruises to Spinster Victory

Shadwell Stable's Malathaat (Curlin) strode home a powerful winner of the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. at Keeneland, earning an automatic berth to the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. The 2-5 favorite was never far from the front behind a moderate pace and surged up to challenge Letruska (Super Saver) nearing the stretch. Malathaat ricocheted to the lead off the turn and never looked back, storming home a 5 3/4-length winner.

“By the quarter pole, I saw Tyler [Gaffalione] was tapping on [Letruska], and I thought, 'You know what, I'm going to pass him and hopefully that discourages him,'” said winning rider John Velazquez. “Malathaat kept running today. Normally when she gets to the lead she slows down, and she did, but at the same time she was running a little bit. Right at the wire, she [moved sideways] and she almost left me at the wire. But she was much the best today.”

Malathaat is now three-for-three over the Keeneland strip where she will attempt to win the Distaff–a race she was third in at Del Mar last year–Nov. 5.

Looking ahead to the Breeders 'Cup, trainer Todd Pletcher said, “She seems to love the track here. She's three for three here now, so that's always encouraging, to know one handles the surface well.”

Among Malathaat's challengers at Keeneland next month will be another daughter of Curlin who romped to a graded victory Sunday; the 3-year-old Nest bested her elders with an effortless victory in the GII Beldame S. at Aqueduct.

Last year's champion 3-year-old filly with wins in the GI Kentucky Oaks, GI Alabama S. and GI Ashland S., Malathaat looks to only be getting better at four. She opened 2022 with a win in the GIII Doubledogdare S. and, following runner-up efforts behind Clairiere (Curlin) in the June 11 GI Ogden Phipps S. and July 24 GII Shuvee S., she returned to the winner's circle in the Aug. 27 GI Personal Ensign S. last time out.

“It's great when you have one in their third year of training and you get to know them pretty well and kind of know what they like,” said Pletcher. “You could tell that this year she's a bigger, stronger version of last year's self and needed a little more training. That's why last year we opted to go from the GI Alabama to the Breeders' Cup. But this year we thought with an older, more mature filly that's carrying more condition, that a prep race in between was more appropriate.”

Pedigree Notes:

Dreaming of Julia, winner of the 2013 GI Frizette S., has a yearling filly by Medaglia d'Oro and a weanling filly by Curlin. She was bred back to Into Mischief this year.

In addition to Malathaat's win Sunday, Curlin was represented over the weekend by Elite Power, who captured the GII Vosburgh S. Saturday and Nest, who won the GII Beldame S. Sunday.

Sunday, Keeneland
JUDDMONTE SPINSTER S.-GI, $600,000, Keeneland, 10-9, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:51.05, ft.
1–MALATHAAT, 124, 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
($1,050,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Shadwell Stable;
B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Todd A.
Pletcher; J-John R. Velazquez. $372,000. 'TDN Rising Star'
Lifetime Record: Ch. 3-year-old filly, 13-9-3-1, $2,750,825.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Army Wife, 124, f, 4, by Declaration of War
               1st Dam: Tread, by Arch
               2nd Dam: Scoot Yer Boots, by Seeking the Gold
               3rd Dam: Whirl Series, by Roberto
($50,000 Ylg '19 FTKFEB; $190,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR).
O-Three Diamonds Farm; B-J D Stuart & AR Enterprises, Inc.
(KY); T-Michael J. Maker. $120,000.
3–Played Hard, 124, f, 4, by Into Mischief
               1st Dam: Well Lived, by Tiznow
               2nd Dam: Well Dressed, by Notebook
               3rd Dam: Trithenia, by Gold Meridian
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($280,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Rigney
Racing, LLC; B-Susan Casner (KY); T-Philip A. Bauer. $60,000.
Margins: 5 1/4, 3 1/4, 8 1/4. Odds: 0.44, 22.27, 4.14.
Also Ran: Letruska, Princess of Cairo.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Malathaat Cruises to Spinster Victory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Ghostzapper’s Goodnight Olive Upsets the Ballerina

In a field which included three Grade I winners, it was first-time stakes starter Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) who came away with the victory–and an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint–in the GI Ballerina S. at Saratoga Sunday. Sent off at 5-1, the dark bay filly was hustled out of the gate before settling into third as Travel Column (Frosted) assumed command through a quarter in :22.09. Goodnight Olive rushed up to press the pacestter after a half in :44.50 and powered past that rival at midstretch before powering clear to the wire.

“They were going a little fast, but she was going the right way,” said winning jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. “She was relaxed and in a good spot. I bided my time and waited. Turning for home, she was there for me. She's a nice filly, but she had never faced Grade I horses in the afternoon, but she did it today and she showed up.”

Ce Ce (Elusive Quality), the 3-2 favorite, was well back in the early going and was some five wide into the stretch, but never threatened while coming home fifth.

“She's a little bit picky when it comes to the track and today it was not her favorite,” said Victor Espinoza, aboard the beaten favorite. “She bounced out of there and she wasn't doing her thing. I was just trying to encourage her to get her rhythm, but it seemed like she struggled. I tried to get her outside and hoped. I tried everything I can and hopefully she could go forward. But it's one of those things where if she doesn't like the track, she will not run. She will be OK. She will get them next time. The most important thing is that she comes out good and we'll go for the next.”

First Row Partners and Team Hanley's Goodnight Olive, a $170,000 Fasig-Tipton October purchase, returned from seven months on the sidelines to romp to an 8 1/2-length maiden score in her second career start at Keeneland last October. She scored by nine lengths at Aqueduct Nov. 21, resurfaced to win a Belmont optional claimer by 5 1/2 lengths June 23 and kept the win streak going with a 3 3/4-length victory going 6 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga Aug. 7.

“I want to thank my team and all these beautiful partners that are in the picture here,” trainer Chad Brown said from the Saratoga winner's circle Sunday afternoon. “There's been more not good phone calls about this filly than good phone calls. She hasn't run a lot. A lot of stop and go with her, not unlike her dad who I worked with, Ghostzapper. Maybe not on the track often, but very talented. She's had some soundness issues, but the team of owners always let me do the right thing, take my time with this horse and never push her beyond what she was ready to do. She finally got it all together. She's nice and sound and healthy, and I appreciate their patience.”

The Ballerina served as a 'Win and You're In' event for the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint. Of a possible Breeders' Cup start, Brown said, “I don't know if I'll run her between now and [the Breeders' Cup]. She just ran back in three weeks, that'd be the reason. We'll see how she's doing. With her, you can't take anything for granted. She's had a lot of stoppages, but now she's good. Knock on wood, she stays that way.”

Pedigree Notes:

Goodnight Olive is a daughter of 2011 GIII Dogwood S. winner Salty Strike, who died in 2019. First Row Partners purchased the winner's half-sister Katie's Keepsake (Medaglia d'Oro), in foal to Tiz the Law, for $65,000 at last year Keeneland November sale, in between Goodnight Olive's romping maiden score and follow-up allowance triumph.

Goodnight Olive is the 49th graded winner for her sire, Ghostzapper, whose daughters Guarana, Paulassilverlining, Judy the Beauty, Better Lucky, Molly Morgan and Starship Truffles have all won at the top level.

Sunday, Saratoga
BALLERINA H.-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 8-28, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:21.40, ft.
1–GOODNIGHT OLIVE, 118, f, 4, by Ghostzapper
          1st Dam: Salty Strike (MGSW, $485,266), by Smart Strike
          2nd Dam: Lake Huron, by Salt Lake
          3rd Dam: My Rainbow, by Lyphard
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I
   WIN. ($170,000 Ylg '19 FTKOCT). O-First Row Partners and
Team Hanley; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY);
T-Chad C. Brown; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.. $275,000. Lifetime Record:
6-5-1-0, $499,950. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
   Werk Nick Rating: B+.
   Click for free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Caramel Swirl, 119, f, 4, by Union Rags
          1st Dam: Caramel Snap, by Smart Strike
          2nd Dam: Fast Cookie, by Deputy Minister
          3rd Dam: Fleet Lady, by Avenue of Flags
   1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott.
$100,000.
3–Obligatory, 123, f, 4, by Curlin
          1st Dam: Uno Duo (SW, $171,300), by Macho Uno
          2nd Dam: Willstar, by Nureyev
          3rd Dam: Nijinsky Star, by Nijinsky II
O/B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (KY); T-William I. Mott. $60,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 1HF, 3 3/4. Odds: 5.80, 15.30, 2.75.
Also Ran: Travel Column, Ce Ce, Lady Rocket, Bella Sofia.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPshttp://www.equineline.com/tdn/pedigree.cfm?tk=SAR&cy=USA&rd=09/07/2015&rn=9&de=D &ref=9104432. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Pauline’s Pearl Gives Asmussen Third Houston Ladies Classic Victory

A very successful renewal of the Houston Racing Festival at Sam Houston Race Park took place on Sunday afternoon in Houston, Texas, with exciting performances throughout the program and tremendous support by horseplayers here and across the country.

For the second year in a row, Sam Houston Race Park set a new all-source handle record with $5.98 million wagered on the 11-race program. This number topped last year's wagering record of 5.3 million and the $5.2 million wagered on the NTRA Great State Challenge in 2002.

Stonestreet Stable LLC's homebred Pauline's Pearl won the richest race on the card, the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic.

It was the third win in the Houston Ladies Classic for Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen, who trained previous winners Midnight Bisou and Lady Apple. On Sunday, Pauline's Pearl, at odds of 3-5, joined the list as his third winner of the featured race since the Houston Ladies Classic was inaugurated in 2013.

“This is a very key race and the mares who have won this have a big say in the stakes for older mares,” said Asmussen. “Pauline's Pearl is a very nice Stonestreet homebred who has been training extremely well and we are proud of this victory.”

Asmussen spoke about the future of the talented filly.

“She won the Fantasy at Oaklawn last year, so we will head back to Hot Springs and hope she continues to progress,” he added.

The multiple graded stakes placed filly won the Fantasy (G3) at Oaklawn Park last spring before competing in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). She is a daughter of Tapit and is out of the Dixie Union mare Hot Dixie Chick, a multiple graded stakes winner who Asmussen also trained during her racing career.

With her share of the Houston Ladies Classic purse, Pauline's Pearl is just shy of becoming racing's newest millionaire, with $968,500 earned in 11 starts and four wins.

The victory gave Joel Rosario his second stakes win of the day. The pair sat off the pace early and had their work cut out for them as they swung wide in the final turn and pulled clear of runner-up Golden Curl in the stretch to win by 3 3/4 lengths. The final time for the mile and one-sixteenth on the main track stake on the main track was 1:44.43. Golden Curl sat comfortably in second place throughout the race with Tyler Gaffalione aboard for trainer Shawn Davis.

“The trip set up beautifully for us,” said Gaffalione. “She broke alertly and the favorite went ahead. I was able to get to her outside. She settled nicely and even though we couldn't catch the winner, my filly gave a good performance today.”

The 6-year-old Curlin mare is also bred by Stonestreet and is owned by George Sharp. She made her debut in Houston in the Ladies Classic and was a stakes winner at Remington last fall.

Corey Lanerie and Audrey's Time finished third for trainer Neil Pessin. Owned by Lothenbach Stables, Audrey's Time is a 4-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo who shipped in fresh off a win at the Fair Grounds in the $75,000 Joseph “Spanky” Broussard Stakes.

Becca's Rocket completed the superfecta while pacesetter The Mary Rose finished fifth, followed by Velvet Crush and Champagne Affair.

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