After winning the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) in 2021 at Churchill Downs with Malathaat His fourth win in the race, Hall of Fame coach Todd Pletcher hopes to build on that success with a promising group of 3-year-olds in 2022.
In addition to starting Robert and Lawana Law’s Classy version in Davona Dale Shares presented by FanDuel (G2) at Gulfstream Park March 5, he has at least a handful of others pointing to the Oaks, including stake winners Nest and Shahama .
Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael House’s Nest are currently sixth in the Kentucky Oaks rankings with 20 points. The Curlin captured 1/8 Demoiselle Stakes (G2) 1/8 mile in December at Aqueduct race track and won six of the mile and 40 yards Suncoast Stakes on February 12 in her seasonal debut at Tampa Bay Downs.
Meanwhile, KHK Racing’s Shahama will start playing for Pletcher in the US this spring after winning the UAE Oaks presented by Jafza (G3) in Meydan to coach Fawzi Abdulla Nass. In that race, the daughter of Munnings overcome a slow start to win the two lengths. She is 4 for 4.
Get out Belong to me mare Private feeling Shahama is a half-sister to the two-time champion Look at luck and multi-category bet winners Kensei . She has 50 Oaks points, securing her entry in the May 6 Oaks.
“We’re very excited about bringing her in. I believe the plan is to go to Florida and prepare for the Oaks,” Pletcher said. “I think we’ll just train to the Oaks, but we need to see how she is and how quickly she adapts before making any firm decisions.”
Pletcher says Nest will likely target Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) on April 8 at Keenelandoffers 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying scores.
“I’m very pleased with her comeback race and excited about how she overcame it,” Pletcher said.
Pletcher also offers many conditions for Oaks to place a hopeful graded stake Goddess of Fire (fifth, 22 points), second place in Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) on February 19 at Fair Grounds & Slots for Red Oak Stable.
As for the 2021 Oaks winner, Shadwell Stable’s Malathaat, she’s training at the Palm Beach Downs in South Florida, where she passed twice before the 4-year-old campaign.
“She did an excellent job,” Pletcher said. “She’s had an easy two-thirds eighth and we’ll start to tidy things up a bit as we go along. I’m very happy with her and looking forward to a big year from her.”
The regal bred daughter of Curlin 1st grade winner Dreaming of Julia boasts a perfect 8-6-1-1 money record with wallet earnings in excess of $1,735 million. She took three 1s last year and finished her season third in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). She was voted as the 3-year-old young champion in 2021.
“It would be difficult to say that she had any real weaknesses,” Pletcher said. “I watched the replay of Distaff the other day and she had a pretty rough ride in it and bounced at the top of the ramp and still fought inside and was only half defeated.”
Pletcher said he is looking forward to campaigning for Malathaat as an old horse.
“She’s someone we’ve always felt will continue to get better as she gets older. We’re very excited about having her back and hopefully we can get on to the form we’ve come to expect. from her,” Pletcher said.
