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Malathaat Leads 1-2-3 Sweep By Curlin Fillies In Demoiselle

Shadwell Stable's Malathaat continued a perfect start to her career with a rallying score over Millefeuille in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Demoiselle, a nine-furlong test for juvenile fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Curlin bay was an impressive debut winner at Belmont Park in October ahead of a last-out 7 3/4-length romp in the Tempted, a one-turn mile on November 6 at the Big A.

Kendrick Carmouche established command aboard Traffic Lane into the first turn as Joel Rosario urged Millefeuille into second position to the outside of Malathaat, who exited the inside post under Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

Traffic Lane marked the opening quarter-mile in 23.69 seconds and the half-mile in 48.50 on the sloppy and sealed main track with Millefeuille pinned to her hip as Malathaat angled off the rail and was asked to maintain her position by Velazquez.

Millefeuille assumed the lead into the final turn as Traffic Lane gave way and Malibu Curl cruised into second position while Velazquez continued to work on Malathaat through three-quarters in 1:13.33.

With much to do as the field turned for home, Velazquez angled Malathaat outside of Malibu Curl at the quarter pole and began to pick up her feet inside of the slow-starting Cafe Society to take dead aim at the leader.

Millefeuille continued to find more inside the final furlong but Malathaat was making up ground with powerful strides and got up comfortably to secure the three-quarter length win in a final time of 1:52.36. It was 4 1/2-lengths back to Malibu Curl, who completed the trifecta by a length over Cafe Society.

The top three were all sired by Curlin.

The top four finishers earned 10-4-2-1 points toward the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, scheduled for April 30, 2021 at Churchill Downs.

Traffic Lane and Celestial Cheetah rounded out the order of finish. Dollar Mountain and Caramocha were scratched.

The victory marked the sixth Demoiselle win for Pletcher to lead all trainers, having previously scored with Smok'n Frolic [2001], Ashado [2003], Disposablepleasure [2011], Unlimited Budget [2012] and Stopchargingmaria [2013].

Pletcher said Malathaat struggled from the inside post.

“She wasn't comfortable inside,” said Pletcher. “I think she was unsure of the footing early on. In her first two starts, she had easy trips without much dirt in her face. I was worried at multiple points of the race. Sometimes drawing the rail is great and this time it seemed to have backfired on us a couple of times. In the final eighth of a mile, she was able to get into her comfort zone and rhythm and that's when she showed what she's all about.

“She did it with her ears pricked, so in the end, it was impressive that she could do that,” he continued. “Some lesser quality horses might have thrown in the towel at some stage, but when she got rolling, she was impressive.”

It was a record seventh Demoiselle victory for Velazquez, whose previous winners include Smok'n Frolic, Roar Emotion [2002], Sis City [2004], Mushka [2007], Unlimited Budget and Wonder Gadot [2017].

“Her class was what kept her going and got here there on time,” said Velazquez. “She was never comfortable and not running into a spot I wanted. She never really put that much effort into keeping a spot. Finally, when I tipped her out heading to the quarter-pole, she started running.

“When I got her out, she put her ears up,” added Velazquez. “Little by little, when she got to the other horses, she started going.”

The well-bred Malathaat, purchased for $1.05 million at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is out of the Pletcher-trained Dreaming of Julia, who captured the 2012 Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park.

“I see some similarities [with Dreaming of Julia],” said Pletcher. “They are both nice fillies to be around and very professional in the mornings and very sweet around the barn. They are very easy to take care of and they both have shown they want to run long. Dreaming of Julia was a really high-quality filly and I think this filly is of the same ilk.”

Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Malathaat banked $82,500 in victory while remaining perfect through three starts. She returned $2.90 as the 2-5 mutuel favorite.

Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A, Closing Day of the 18-day fall meet, with a nine-race card offering a pair of rich New York Stallion Stakes Series races, including the Great White Way for 2-year-olds and the Fifth Avenue for juvenile fillies, with purses of $250,000 each. Also featured on Closing Day is the $100,000 Garland of Roses at six furlongs for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

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Malathaat Looms Large in Demoiselle

Undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Malathaat (Curlin) looks to remain perfect as she steps up to graded company in Saturday’s GII Demoiselle S. at Aqueduct. A decisive debut winner going seven panels at Belmont Oct. 9, the $1.05-million KEESEP buy romped by 7 3/4 lengths in the one-mile Tempted S. at this oval Nov. 6.

“You would think with her pedigree and the way she won going a mile that a stretch out should not be an issue,” trainer Todd Pletcher told the NYRA notes team. “She’s always trained like a quality filly that wants two turns, so we’re excited about stretching her out. This filly has been a star from day one basically.”

Bill Mott saddles a promising daughter of Curlin in Juddmonte homebred Millefeuille. Runner-up in her one-mile Belmont unveiling Sept. 26, the bay graduated by four lengths over that track and trip Oct. 23.

“It definitely was a nice debut,” said Juddmonte Farms general manager Garrett O’Rourke. “You always want these horses to have ability, but it’s nice to see them know where the line is and have some try in them. She ran hard to the line. Todd’s filly looks like she’s got some possible superstar potential and so we’ll probably have to run a little harder this time around.”

Tom Albertrani also sends out a Curlin filly who graduated at second asking in Malibu Curl. Making a mild late bid to be sixth in her career bow at Saratoga Aug. 2, the chestnut earned her diploma next out in a seven-furlong test at the Spa Sept. 6.

Allen Stable’s Cafe Society (Empire Maker) donned cap and gown on debut at Belmont Oct. 18 and was third last time in the Tempted.

“I was disappointed in her last race, but she’s come back and trained well,” said Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey. “She had a really good breeze and galloped out well, so hopefully we’ll see a little better performance than we did the last time. I couldn’t have asked for any more.”

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Road To The Kentucky Oaks: Streaking Malathaat Headlines Aqueduct’s Demoiselle

Shadwell Stable's Malathaat, undefeated in two starts for trainer Todd Pletcher, will look to make the grade in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Demoiselle, a nine-furlong test for juvenile fillies on the main track at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Demoiselle, which offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-four finishers, is part of a lucrative card headlined by the 32nd renewal of the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile for 3-year-olds and up and also includes the Grade 2, $150,000 Remsen at nine furlongs for juveniles and the Grade 3, $100,000 Go for Wand Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at one mile on the main track.

Live coverage of Cigar Mile Day will be available with America's Day at the Races on FS2 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Eastern and on MSG+ from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Free Equibase-provided past performances will be available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

By Curlin and out of the Pletcher-trained Dreaming of Julia, who captured the 2012 Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park, Malathaat boasts a golden pedigree that saw the filly purchased for $1.05 million at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The precocious bay, bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, drew off to a 1 3/4-length score when sprinting seven furlongs in her Oct. 9 debut at Belmont Park and followed last out with a 7 3/4-length win in the Tempted at one-mile on the Big A main track.

Pletcher said the added distance on Saturday shouldn't hamper Malathaat.

“You would think with her pedigree and the way she won going a mile that a stretch out should not be an issue,” said Pletcher. “She's always trained like a quality filly that wants two turns, so we're excited about stretching her out. This filly has been a star from day one basically.”

Hall of Famer John Velazquez, aboard for the debut score which secured the rider his 2,000th win at Belmont, has the call from the inside post.

Pletcher will also send out Repole Stable's Traffic Lane, who graduated last out in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on Nov. 15 on the Big A turf. Kendrick Carmouche will guide the Outwork filly from post 2.

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Millefeuille, by Curlin and out of the War Front mare Bandana, just missed at first asking, running second on Sept. 26 in a one-turn mile at Belmont. The second time out worked a treat for the talented bay, when she posted a four-length win at the same distance on Oct. 23 on Big Sandy.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said nine furlongs will suit his improving filly.

“She's doing good. It seems like a good distance for her,” said Mott.

The Kentucky-bred is a direct descendant of prolific Juddmonte broodmare Toussaud, who produced 2003 Belmont Stakes winner and champion producing stallion Empire Maker, as well as Grade 1 winners Chester House, Chiselling and Honest Lady, who is the granddam of Millefeuille.

Joel Rosario retains the mount from post 3.

Allen Stable's Cafe Society, an Ontario-bred daughter of Empire Maker, was purchased for $475,000 at the OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. She won by 3 1/2-lengths in her Oct. 18 debut when sprinting six furlongs at Belmont for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

Last out, Cafe Society chased the pace in the Tempted en route to a third-place effort, 10 1/4-lengths in arrears of Malathaat.

Cafe Society worked a half-mile in 49.03 seconds Sunday on the Belmont main track. McGaughey said he is expecting an improved effort.

“I was disappointed in her last race, but she's come back and trained well,” said McGaughey. “She had a really good breeze and galloped out well, so hopefully we'll see a little better performance than we did the last time. I couldn't have asked for any more.”

Jose Ortiz, aboard for the debut win, will guide Cafe Society from post 6.

Richard Greeley's Caramocha, bred in New York by Chester and Mary Broman, graduated by 4 1/4-lengths on debut in a six-furlong sprint against fellow state-breds on Nov. 7 at the Big A when sent to post at odds of 99-1.

Trained by Mitchell Friedman, Caramocha was a $100,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. Her second dam, Indy Glory, produced the multiple Grade 1-winning New York-bred Artemis Agrotera.

Caramocha will make her stakes debut from post 7 under Dylan Davis.

Rounding out the field are Woodslane Farm's Malibu Curl [post 4, Junior Alvarado], Brereton C. Jones homebred Dollar Mountain [post 5, Jose Lezcano] and Designated Hitters Racing's Celestial Cheetah [post 8, Manny Franco].

The Demoiselle is slated as Race 9 on Saturday's 10-race card, which will feature a mandatory payout of the Empire 6. First post is 11:30 a.m. Eastern.

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Known Agenda Tops Field Of Five Juveniles In Saturday’s Remsen

A nine-furlong test awaits a field of five juvenile colts in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Remsen over Aqueduct Racetrack's main track.

The Remsen, which offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers, is one of four graded stakes on Saturday's card which is headlined by the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile for 3-year-olds and up. The lucrative program also features the Remsen's juvenile fillies nine-furlong counterpart, the Grade 2, $150,000 Demoiselle, as well as the Grade 3, $100,000 Go for Wand for fillies and mares going a one-turn mile over the main track.

Already a winner at the nine-furlong distance, Known Agenda will attempt to give trainer Todd Pletcher a third Remsen triumph, joining subsequent Grade 1-winners Bluegrass Cat (2005) and Overanalyze (2012).

Owned and bred by Vincent Viola's St. Elias Stable, Known Agenda rose to the occasion at second asking, breaking his maiden on Nov. 8 at Aqueduct over a fast main track. He sat just 1 1/2 lengths off the pace in the nine-furlong maiden special weight and battled down the stretch with Greatest Honour before winning by a head, garnering a 79 Beyer Speed Figure.

The chestnut son of Curlin and second foal out of Grade 1-winner Byrama finished second to eventual stakes-winner Highly Motivated in his career debut on Sept. 27, going 6 ½ furlongs at Belmont Park.

“I was actually surprised he ran as well as he did sprinting, but it helped him a lot for his maiden win,” Pletcher said. “He's designed to run longer. He's had two good efforts so far.”

Since breaking his maiden, Known Agenda has recorded two breezes over the Belmont training track, most recently a half-mile going 48.52 seconds on Nov. 28.

Pletcher said he was encouraged by the maiden victory on a track he considered to be deep on opening weekend of the Big A fall meet.

“We always felt that he was always a two-turn horse and is bred to be one,” Pletcher said. “Especially that opening week, it seemed like the track was extra demanding. The fact that he was able to handle it on that deep of a surface is encouraging. He's come back and trained well so we're looking forward to running him.”

John Velazquez, currently tied with fellow Hall of Famer Eddie Maple with four Remsen triumphs, will attempt to become the race's standalone winningest jockey, piloting Known Agenda from post 2.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey is the winningest conditioner in Remsen history with four previous scores and will attempt to extend his advantage when sending out Ten for Ten following a runner-up finish to Remsen-rival Pickin' Time in the Grade 3 Nashua on Nov. 7 at the Big A.

Owned by Donald and Donna Adam's Courtlandt Farms, the son of first crop sire Frosted was second in his debut on Sept. 7 going six furlongs at Saratoga, then won at second asking in front-running fashion by eight-lengths while registering a 78 Beyer. Ten for Ten replicated that figure in the Nashua when finishing 2 ¼ lengths back to Pickin' Time.

Ten for Ten worked a quick half-mile in 48.25 seconds Sunday on Big Sandy and McGaughey said the colt is coming into the Remsen in good order.

“He worked in 48 and change and went fine,” McGaughey said. “We're on the right track. He acts like he's a pretty nice horse. It will be interesting seeing him go a mile and an eighth. He's quick so we'll see how he does on Saturday. He should be able to place himself well.”

Bred in Kentucky by George Krikorian, Ten for Ten is the second offspring out of the Eskendereya mare Summer Vacation, who is a half-sibling to Grade 1-winners Creative Cause and Vexatious, as well as multiple graded stakes winner Destin.

Jockey Jose Ortiz will ride Ten for Ten from post 5.

John Bowers, Jr.'s New Jersey homebred Pickin' Time, trained by Kelly Breen, will attempt to become the first horse since Mohaymen in 2015 to score the Nashua-Remsen double.

The son of Stay Thirsty triumphed in the six-furlong Smoke Glacken on Sept. 27 at Monmouth Park and stretched out to one mile in style in the Nashua, where he made a three-wide move at the top of the stretch and took command just outside the eighth-pole to draw off to victory.

Pickin' Time boasts the highest earnings in the field with $184,025 through a consistent 5-3-1-0 lifetime record.

Jockey Jose Lezcano, who piloted 2009 Remsen victor Buddy's Saint, will return to the saddle from the inside post.

Mark Schwartz's Brooklyn Strong will attempt to parlay his stakes-winning form into graded stakes company for trainer Daniel Velazquez.

The son of Wicked Strong, bred in the Empire State by Cheryl Prudhomme and Dr. Michael Gallivan, was a winner at first asking in a maiden claiming mile on Sept. 12 at Delaware Park. Following a third in his stakes debut in the Bertram F. Bongard for state-breds on Oct. 2 at Belmont Park, Brooklyn Strong bested fellow state-breds in the one-mile Sleepy Hollow on Oct. 24 at Belmont Park by 2 1/4-lengths over Eagle Orb, who exited that race to win the Notebook on Nov. 14 at the Big A.

“It shows we're beating legitimate horses,” said Velazquez of the Sleepy Hollow score. “Physically, he's really maturing. We're coming into December now and he's growing more into his body and he's more physically stout.”

A $5,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training from the Coastal Equine consignment, Brooklyn Strong has already banked $112,500.

“The owner went down to Ocala and he called me and sent me a few pictures,” said Velazquez. “It was $5,000 and we decided to take a shot. We didn't think he'd end up winning stakes races. Of course, we're doing a little Derby dreaming, but we want to take it just one day at a time and stay healthy.”

Jockey Joel Rosario will climb aboard Brooklyn Strong for the first time from post 3.

Rounding out the field is Erawan, for trainer and owner Jose Corrales.

The Florida bred son of Rock Hampton was a 23-1 upset winner of his career debut on November 8 at Laurel Park before facing winners going 1 1/16 miles at the Maryland oval, where he was elevated to third after rallying from last-of-9 to come within a half-length of victory.

Jockey Manny Franco will be in the irons from post 4.

The Remsen is slated as Race 4 on Aqueduct's 10-race program, which offers a first post of 11:30 a.m. Eastern. America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the Aqueduct fall meet with coverage to air on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.

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