Maracuja, Malathaat Bound for Alabama

The flower blanket outside of trainer Rob Atras' barn the morning of July 25 served as a welcome reminder of what Maracuja  accomplished a day prior, when the sophomore filly outdueled 1-5 favorite Malathaat  in deep stretch to win the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) by a head at Saratoga Race Course.

Beach Haven Thoroughbreds' Maracuja marked the first career grade 1 win for Atras, who has been on his own as a trainer since 2009.

Atras said the races earlier on Saturday's card kept him from thinking too much about the CCA Oaks.

"I was busy the first couple of races; we were looking at a couple of horses to claim, so it kind of kept my mind off it," Atras said. "I didn't get too much time to get worked up. But it's unbelievable; in Saratoga to win a grade 1, I had so many messages from friends and well-wishers after the race. It felt like everyone was watching."

Since running second in her debut in December at Aqueduct Racetrack, Maracuja has finished on the board in four of her five starts in her 3-year-old campaign, including a maiden-breaking win at third asking in February at the Big A and a second-place effort going 1 1/8 miles in the Gazelle Stakes (G3) in April at the Ozone Park-based track.

The daughter of Honor Code   finished seventh behind Malathaat in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) in her first grade 1 attempt. Since that effort, Maracuja had been training consistently.

"She's just developed and every race, it seems like she's moving forward," Atras said. "Her first couple of races, she was a bit green. After she got her wind, she really just blossomed. She's come a long way in a short time. I was really proud of her and really impressed how she bore down and got up like that in the end. To run against a filly as accomplished as Malathaat, it was incredible, really."

Atras indicated that Maracuja could make another summer meet appearance at the Spa in the Aug. 21 $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1), where she will face Malathaat for Round 3 as well as runaway Delaware Oaks (G3) victress Crazy Beautiful .

"If she continues to come out of the race good then I definitely would like to consider that race," Atras said. "She ate everything up and cooled out good after the race and she was good this morning. It's always a concern when they put in a big effort like that, but so far, we look good."

Shadwell Stable's Malathaat, a game runner-up to Maracuja in the CCA Oaks, will also be pointing towards the Alabama.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and piloted by John Velazquez, the regally-bred Curlin   bay was pressured throughout the nine-furlong journey, first by Maracuja and later by Clairiere , after exiting the inside post in a compact field of four.

"We had a difficult time analyzing the race beforehand and how we thought it might unfold. There wasn't a lot of speed on paper and we were in the one post with a target on our backs, so our strategy was to let her run away from the gate and try to establish a position into the first turn or if someone was to clear us, hopefully move out into the clear.

"Everyone left there with the same intention and by the time we got to the first quarter we'd gone :23 and one (fifth of a second), which is fine if we could have a little breather along the way," Pletcher continued. "But as soon as we got on the backside, Irad (Ortiz Jr. aboard Clairiere) made a move and put pressure on her. She kind of had to fight off the whole field. When you're a heavy favorite in a race like that with a short field, those things can happen. I'm not disappointed with the filly at all. I thought she ran bravely considering everything that was thrown at her off the layoff (from the Kentucky Oaks). If she comes back well, we'll point towards the Alabama."

Another talented 3-year-old filly targeting the Alabama is Phoenix Thoroughbred III's Crazy Beautiful. Trainer Kenny McPeek said Sunday that the multiple graded stakes winner is likely to bypass the Aug. 8 Saratoga Oaks Invitational (G3T) in favor of the Alabama.

The gray daughter of Liam's Map   worked five furlongs in 1:01.87 July 24 over the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga.

"I'm leaning against it today, but I have a couple weeks," McPeek said of the Saratoga Oaks. "They are inviting her, but we need to make sure she's on tilt before committing to anything. I thought she'd work better than she did yesterday. I want to give her a few days. She will be nominated to the Alabama, but I just need to make sure she's 110%."

Crazy Beautiful has already taken down three graded stakes events this season, capturing the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and Summertime Oaks (G2) before her six-length romp in the July 3 Delaware Oaks.