In her 4-year-old season opening on April 22 at Keeneland, Malathaat found a way to dominate the $300,000 Baird Doubledogdare bet (G3).
That’s what champions do.
In her first start since the end of her 3-year campaign with a third place finish in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) in November at Del MarMalathaat took home a tough win in Friday’s 1/16-mile test for older mares and athletics — scoring three-quarters of the length over last year’s Doubledogdare winner Bonny South .
If Shadwell Stable’s Malathaat appears on a short Friday, the daughter of Curlin there will be a reason. The 3-year-old 2021 champion has just started for the first time in more than five months, racing wide in both turns and will have to race from fourth – nine races back to half a mile – with a short stretch of Keeneland looming.
Kentucky Oaks champion and winner MALATHAAT returns to the single-winner track in the Baird Doubledogdare (G3) at Keeneland with @ljlmvel board! @ShadwellRacing @PletcherRacing pic.twitter.com/zZQlxl4vT1
– Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) April 22, 2022
But Malathaat will find a way; rallied three wide under gentle encouragement from John Velazquez to take the lead in the middle of the lap despite racing off the lead. She will change clients late and use her class to prevent Bonny South from running too late.
“We got to the end and I let her do her thing, let her focus on her business, but when we got to the third-eighth milestone, I said, ‘Oh my god, I’m too early now. .’ I took her out a bit too quickly,” Velazquez said. “Down in the lane, I made her turn and she got lost looking for the field. Then the other horse (Bonny South) came up to her and she moved on, so it was great. We know when she gets to the lead role she’s starting to wait for, so it’s a good return for her.”
With the win, Malathaat who has won three times in 1st grade won the overall victory for her 5th grade. Winning coach Todd Pletcher said Doubledogdare proved a good comeback race for Malathaat, who was bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings in Kentucky and sold at Keeneland September 2019 for $1,050,000.
“It’s really about timing and seeing when she’s ready. She had a respite at Shadwell after the Breeders’ Cup and they did a great job with her. She looks super.” , Pletcher said. “So we targeted this (race) and we felt as if time was running out we had a backup plan in (May 6) La Troienne (G1) at Churchill. But she is ready. We didn’t want to overdo it for her start of the year, and we kept it in our minds not only that she won (Central Bank) Ashland (Stocks, G1) here , which (this year) Breeders’ Cup is also here. “
Malathaat finished the race in 1:44.58. Long shot Super fast finished third in Doubledogdare — her equity debut.
Malathaat connections in the winner’s presentation after the Doubledogdare Tiền Bet
Coach Brad Cox is pleased with Bonny South’s runner-up performance.
“It was a great effort; she ran well. Very happy with her effort. This will help prepare her for a successful year. And, hopefully, a 1st grade because she did. knocking on the door so many times that we feel like we have to get a win. This is a good result after the layoffs (five months) and something we can build on.”
Malathaat comes from a ranks of stake performers, starting with her dam, 1st grade winner Dreaming of Julia, daughter of many 1st graders who ate Dream Rush and half sister to her father. different mother with three black type winners. Stonestreet has been holding the Dream of Julia’s youngest child, which includes an unnamed and weaning 2-year-old sister to Malathaat and a yearning child of Medaglia d’Oro .
Video: Baird Doubledogdare S. (G3)
