Mufajaah to Get Another Start at Oaklawn
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Mufajaah, impressive winner of the recent Bayakoa Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park, will be pointed for the $300,000 Azeri Stakes (gr. II) March 14, postponing retirement at least one more race, trainer Dan Peitz said the morning of Feb. 18.
Peitz said if Shadwell Stable's 4-year-old filly wins the Azeri, she would then be pointed for the $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) April 10. Both races are at Oaklawn, where Mufajaah has won four of six starts.
Peitz said the decision not to retire Mufajaah was made after talking with Rick Nichols, Shadwell Farm's vice president and general manager.
"She loves it here," Peitz said. "She really likes the cold weather."
Mufajaah has emerged as Oaklawn's top older female runner this year following victories in the Pippin Stakes Jan. 17 and the 1 1/16-mile Bayakoa. In her most recent race Feb. 15, the 3-2 favorite rallied from last in a 10-horse field after half a mile to get up by a neck over Flashy American.
Peitz said Shadwell's owner, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, likes to breed his 4-year-old fillies, but Mufajaah has continued to postpone her retirement because of how well she's run this winter.
Mufajaah increased her career earnings to $237,140 by winning the Bayakoa, her fifth victory in 12 starts overall. In addition to her two stakes wins during the current meet at Oaklawn, she also broke her maiden and won a first-level allowance/optional claimer last year.
Her only poor performance in Hot Springs came in the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (gr. III) last season, when she finished sixth after Peitz wheeled her back in 13 days.
Sheikh Hamdan, Dubai's Deputy Ruler and Minister of Finance and Industry for the United Arab Emirates, purchased Mufajaah for $375,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She is by Tapit , among the world's most influential stallions, out of Carolyn's Cat, a multiple graded stakes winner.
Peitz said Mufajaah's value as a broodmare prospect has increased because of her two stakes victories, particularly the Bayakoa since it was graded for the first time this year.
"It might encourage them to breed her to a little better stallion, but they go pretty high market anyway," Peitz said. "Being a Tapit, it's pretty good position to be in."