Malathaat Edges Pass the Champagne in Ashland Stakes

Apparently, size does matter when it comes to racing at Keeneland in 2021. With long, powerful strides in the short stretch of the 1 1/16-mile Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1), Shadwell Stable's Malathaat  was able to corral Pass the Champagne  late to get the victory by a head.

With the win in the $400,000 event comes $240,000 and 100 points toward the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), essentially guaranteeing a spot in the gate for the April 30 race at Churchill Downs. There she'll figure to be a heavy hitter along with Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) winner Travel Column  and Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) winner Crazy Beautiful .

Malathaat would have likely made her seasonal debut in the March 27 Gulfstream Park Oaks instead of the Ashland. However, the passing of Shadwell owner Sheikh Hamdan March 24 gave Shadwell general manager Rick Nichols pause.

"We angled her toward the Gulfstream Park Oaks, but when Sheikh Maktoum passed years ago, Sheikh Hamdan called me and said, 'Please don't run any of our horses during a 10-day mourning period.' So, I asked (trainer) Todd Pletcher, 'What about the Ashland?' He said, 'That would be great.'

"The 10 days of mourning ended last night."

RACING POST: INFLUENTIAL OWNER, BREEDER HAMDAN AL MAKTOUM DIES AT 75

Pletcher was not on hand for the win in the Ashland, so Malathaat was saddled by assistant Amelia Green. Moments after the Ashland score, the Pletcher-trained Bourbonic  and Dynamic One  ran one-two in the Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2).

Unbeaten in three starts at 2 including a victory in the Dec. 5 Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack, Malathaat came into the Ashland as the 9-5 favorite on the morning line, but the daughter of Curlin   wound up being the slight 3-2 second choice to fellow graded stakes winner Simply Ravishing .

It was Simply Ravishing who took the early advantage in the six-filly cast in the Ashland. The winner of last year's Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) carried a one-length lead over 34-1 Moon Swag  as the field entered the first bend. Luis Saez was able to nurse her speed down the backstretch as she clicked off a :48.56 half-mile and six furlongs in 1:13 as Moon Swag and Pass the Champagne tracked her. Pass the Champagne made her move under Javier Castellano and came with an inside move to get the lead and quickly opened up a two-length advantage.

Pass the Champagne carried her lead in the stretch as Malathaat was just beginning to roll. Frontrunners are hard to run down at Keeneland in races at 1 1/16 miles with a shortened stretch, but Malathaat was able to cut into Pass the Champagne's lead with every stride, just getting the better of her at the wire in 1:42.94.

"She has a beautiful stride," said winning rider Joel Rosario. "This morning, talking with (Todd Pletcher), he told me exactly how to ride her. It looked like (the leader) was getting away from me, but I knew my filly would be there for me."

There were no tears over finishing second for the connections of Pass the Champagne. The Flatter   filly was making only her third start and second for trainer George Weaver. She races for the consortium of Randy Hill's R. A. Hills Stable, Jake Ballis' Black Type Thoroughbreds, Rock Ridge Racing, Black Ridge Stables, and James Brown.

"I thought she was a winner when she came off the turn. I know it's a short run to the wire and I was like, 'Man we've got open lengths,'" said Weaver. "The wire could not come soon enough and (Malathaat) came running. Todd's filly has been training with me at Palm Beach Downs and I know he's very high on her. There is no embarrassment getting beat by her today. First time two turns; I would look for a big improvement next time."

It was 5 1/4 lengths back to grade 3 winner Will's Secret  in third. Will's Secret, the 4-1 third choice was last early and rallied mildly for third, finishing ahead of Moon Swag, Curlin's Catch , and Simply Ravishing.

The winner was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings and is out of Stonestreet's stellar mare Dreaming of Julia . Dreaming of Julia won the 2012 Frizette Stakes (G1) as a Stonestreet homebred and also won the 2013 Gulfstream Park Oaks but was fourth in that year's Kentucky Oaks.

Stonestreet entered Malathaat in the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale as part of the Denali Stud consignment and Nichols snapped her up for $1.05 million for Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Estate Co.

"She was a beautiful filly as a yearling," he recalled. "She has an unbelievable pedigree and we were extremely happy we could get her."

The victory also gave Shadwell eight graded stakes wins at Keeneland, earning the operation some special hardware. Shadwell's other grade 1 winner at the Lexington track is 2008 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes winner Alwajeeha . The first graded stakes came in 1995.

"I can't put it into words. I am sure (Sheikh Hamdan) is up there with a big smile on his face looking down on us," Nichols said. "It took a while to get it… but it's very special to get it with her."

Video: Central Bank Ashland S. (G1)