Connections Consider Malathaat for Remaining Classics

Owner Shadwell Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher will consider Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Malathaat  for a start against males in one of the year's remaining classics. 

In fact, the connections considered the undefeated daughter of Curlin   for the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). After watching her fight off a determined Search Results  in the stretch to win the Oaks April 30 at Churchill Downs, they expressed regret about the limited options in place to qualify a filly for the Derby.

As for a possible start in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes (G1) May 15 at Pimlico Race Course or the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes (G1) June 5 at Belmont Park, Shadwell vice president and general manager Rick Nichols said such a move will be considered.

"We'll have to see how she comes out of this, and I'm sure Todd will come up with some really good suggestions on where we go from here," Nichols said. "Then we'll discuss it with Sheikh Hamdan's family and develop a plan."

At the end of that assessment, Nichols added that he would have liked to have run Malathaat, a daughter of classic winner Curlin out of grade 1 winner Dreaming of Julia , by Belmont winner A.P. Indy, in the Derby. Pletcher noted that Nichols had said the same thing to him a week ago. 

Pletcher, the most recent trainer to saddle a filly in the Derby in Devil May Care , who finished 10th to winning stablemate Super Saver   in 2010, noted the current system of earning a spot in the Derby for fillies forces difficult decisions for horsemen because the system requires fillies to take on males in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series to earn qualifying points.

That said, all three of the fillies to win the Derby—Winning Colors (1988), Genuine Risk (1980), and Regret (1915)—previously faced males before running in the Derby. But, with horses making fewer pre-Derby or pre-Oaks starts these days, Pletcher noted that one missed opportunity to garner qualifying points could be costly.

"The system needs to be tweaked a little bit," Pletcher said. "The way it currently is set up is, if you don't run against colts prior to the Derby, you're not going to get any points. So you can take a shot and run against the colts, but if you don't do well you can jeopardize your chances of getting into the Oaks because you're not getting any (Oaks) points that way.

"I've heard some speculation that (Churchill) is looking at some things. I think that they should."

Nichols agreed.

"There needs to be a way to qualify one or two of the top fillies each year," Nichols said. "I think it's a very special thing when a filly runs in and wins the Derby. I realize that you set up the Derby to find out who's the best colt, for breeding purposes. It's an opportunity to prove a horse that can go on to stud. 

"At the same time, if you've got a really nice filly, it's kind of nice to rub their faces in it. I think she probably could have."

Pletcher has rarely run horses in the Preakness but he has won the Belmont three times, including in 2007 when filly Rags to Riches  edged Malathaat's sire, Curlin, in one of the greatest editions of the New York classic.

Jockey John Velazquez was aboard Rags to Riches and he believes Malathaat would be capable of competing against top males.

"Obviously she has the talent," Velazquez said. "It's very true this year, and not taking anything away from any colt, but a good horse like her—with the 3-year-olds we have right now—she would be very competitive."