Simply Ravishing, Malathaat Square Off in Ashland

Keeneland's Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) not only opens the door to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) thanks to its rich points haul but historically it also springboards its contestants to victory in the prestigious race for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs.

The previous 83 runnings of the Ashland, according to Keeneland's publicity staff, have produced 34 subsequent Oaks winners, most recently Monomoy Girl  in 2018. The April 2 renewal at 1 1/16 miles on the main track has six fillies seeking the 100 qualifying points for the April 30 Oaks, run the day before the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). The minor placings get points on the 40-20-10 scale.

Topping Mike Battaglia's morning line are Malathaat (9-5) and Simply Ravishing (5-2), winner of the Darley Alcibiades (G1) over the same course and distance Oct. 2. Both make their 3-year-old debuts.

Simply Ravishing, a New York-bred daughter of Laoban   out of the More Than Ready   mare Four Wishes , has been on hold in Florida where trainer Kenny McPeek also was running Alcibiades runner-up Crazy Beautiful , winner of the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) March 27. He did not want to run the fillies head-to-head in that race.

"It will be good to get her going," McPeek said after Simply Ravishing drew gate No. 3 for the Ashland. "She has been ready since early to mid-March ... Simply Ravishing is extremely talented, and she won the Alcibiades so it just seemed logical to run her back in the Ashland."

Luis Saez has ridden Simply Ravishing in all three wins and returns aboard in the Ashland, starting with a first-out victory on the Saratoga Race Course turf Aug. 2. She swept to a 6 1/2-length score in the off-the-turf P.G. Johnson Stakes in her next start and kept to scheduled dirt races since.

After the Alcibiades triumph, Simply Ravishing wound up her 2-year-old season finishing fourth in both the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Keeneland and the Golden Rod Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, disappointing in the latter at 3-5 odds.

Malathaat, a Curlin   filly from the A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia , won all three starts as a 2-year-old for Shadwell Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher. She scored at first asking at Belmont Park Oct. 9, romped to a 7 3/4-length victory in the Tempted Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack a month later, and then edged Millefeuille  in the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) over a sloppy strip at Aqueduct Dec. 5. She also has been training in Florida for her comeback.

Joel Rosario has the mount from post 5.

Honeybee (G3) winner Will's Secret is the third choice on the morning line at 7-2. Trained by Dallas Stewart for Willis Horton Racing, the Will Take Charge   filly rides a three-race win skein into the Ashland. Jon Court will ride.

Brendan Walsh, who trains Ashland longshot Moon Swag , probably will be happy to sit a spell at the Lexington track. Moon Swag, a Malibu Moon   filly, finished third in her last two starts at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots but Walsh has been everywhere. He has been traveling to oversee divisions of his stable in Louisiana and Florida, not to mention keeping a long-distance eye on Extravagant Kid , winner of the Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by Azizi Developments (G1T) at Meydan March 27.

Entries: Central Bank Ashland S. (G1)

Keeneland, Saturday, April 03, 2021, Race 9

• Grade I
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $400,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 5:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Curlin's Catch (ON)	Chris Landeros	121	Mark E. Casse	8/1
2	2Pass the Champagne (KY)	Javier Castellano	121	George Weaver	4/1
3	3Simply Ravishing (NY)	Luis Saez	121	Kenneth G. McPeek	5/2
4	4Moon Swag (KY)	Adam Beschizza	121	Brendan P. Walsh	10/1
5	5Malathaat (KY)	Joel Rosario	121	Todd A. Pletcher	9/5
6	6Will's Secret (KY)	Jon Kenton Court	121	Dallas Stewart	7/2