Kentucky Oaks Winner Malathaat Breezes at Belmont
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Photo: Chad B. Harmon
Malathaat trains prior to her victory in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs
Shadwell Stable's Malathaat recorded her first breeze since capturing the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) with a half-mile in :49.89 at Belmont Park for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
The undefeated 3-year-old daughter of Curlin out of grade 1 winner Dreaming of Julia breezed on the main track under Hall of Famer John Velazquez in company with stablemate and fellow Shadwell color bearer Mahaamel , an Into Mischief colt who ran second in his lone start.
"They both went head-and-head and both looked good," said Pletcher's assistant trainer Byron Hughes. "We just wanted her moving well and doing it well within herself, and she accomplished all of that."
Malathaat won her debut at age 2 and the Tempted Stakes and the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack. A victory in the Central Bank Ashland (G1) April 3 at Keeneland preceded her Oaks triumph.
The next race for Malathaat has not been finalized, though her connections stated after the Oaks that a start against males would be considered.
The first of Pletcher's three victories in the Belmont Stakes (G1) came with the filly Rags to Riches in 2007. This year's Belmont, a $1.5 million race at 1 1/2 miles, is June 5. Among the other stakes at Belmont that day is the one-mile, $500,000 Acorn Stakes (G1) for 3-year-old fillies.
Oaks runner-up Search Results is a candidate for the Acorn.