Maracuja, Malathaat Meet Again in Spa's Alabama Stakes

There was a time not too long ago when it seemed as if the champion 3-year-old filly had already been crowned. 

Heading into the Saratoga Race Course meet, Shadwell Stable's Malathaat  was the undefeated winner of the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) and an odds-on favorite to add a victory in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) to her laurels.

Then that ol'  Saratoga mystique struck.

Beach Haven Thoroughbreds' Maracuja  recorded a stunning yet narrow victory over Malathaat in the CCAO and suddenly the 3-year-old filly division just might be ripe for a new leader.

Or Malathaat might be poised to prove that the CCAO was just a brief glitch on the march to an Eclipse Award.

The $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) should provide an answer to that thorny question as it brings together Malathaat and Maracuja, as well as five other fillies, for an Aug. 21 showdown over an arduous 1 1/4-mile distance at the Spa that should have a major impact on the division's pecking order.

"This does have the feel of a championship race," said Rick Nichols, vice president and general manager of Shadwell Farm.

The Alabama will mark the third meeting between Malathaat and Maracuja with the results tilting slightly in Malathaat's favor. Maracuja, a daughter of Honor Code   trained by Rob Atras, was seventh behind Malathaat in the Kentucky Oaks, finishing 7 1/2 lengths behind. In the CCAO, Maracuja prevailed by a head over Malathaat, who settled for second.

Four weeks later, they will meet again under different circumstances.

The Alabama is a furlong longer than the 1 1/8-mile CCAO, which should benefit Maracuja, who was last for a short while in that race.

"I don't see the distance being an issue," Atras said. "The farther, the better for her. I think she'll handle the distance just fine."

In another importance difference, the Alabama attracted a field of seven after only four contested the CCAO. Though a smaller field would have seemed to work in Malathaat's favor, it created a problem for the daughter of Curlin  , who was bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings and bought for $1,050,000 from the Denali Stud consignment at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Breaking from the rail after more than two months of rest in the July 24 CCAO, a fresh Malathaat broke quickly and took jockey John Velazquez to the lead. In the early stages, Maracuja chased her. But on the backstretch, when second-choice Clairiere  and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. made an aggressive move to challenge Malathaat on the front end, jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. took back on Maracuja and let the two favorites battle.

That strategy worked to perfection. Though Malathaat put away Clairiere, she was softened up enough that Maracuja was able to mount a rally in the final furlong and prevail in the final strides to register a 14-1 upset.

While it was Maracuja's second win in six career starts, it was Malathaat's first loss in six efforts.

"I hope more than three others show up," Nichols said. "What really hurt is the way those two fillies tag-teamed her and pushed her all the way. I think Malathaat will like the distance and they should be going a little easier early. She might be easier to manage in the early stages, too. I wouldn't mind drawing outside a little bit."

Both wishes came true for Nichols as Malathaat landed post six in a field of seven.

Todd Pletcher, who trains Malathaat, was diagnosed with COVID-19 last week and can emerge from isolation Aug. 19. In the interim, the Hall of Fame trainer's veteran staff led by assistants Tristan Berry and Ginny DePasquale have handled the stable's daily operations.

"Todd has an amazing staff," Nichols said. "There's no worries for me on that side of it."

Maracuja, who was bred by River Bend Farm and Austin and Jane Musselman out of the Unbridled's Song mare Patti's Regal Song, will break from post four. She was bought for $200,000 from the Buck Pond Farm consignment at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's New York Sale of Selected Yearlings.

Since the CCAO, Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, and Barry Fowler have joined the ownership group.

Stonestreet Stables' Clairiere, who was third in the CCAO, 5 3/4 lengths behind, will return in the Alabama and drew post three. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the sport's all-time leader in wins, the daughter of Curlin won the Rachel Alexandra Stakes Presented by Fasig-Tipton (G2) earlier in the year. 

The Alabama field also includes Phoenix Thoroughbred III's Crazy Beautiful , a daughter of Liam's Map   who won the Delaware Oaks (G3) for trainer Ken McPeek, and Three Diamonds Farm's Army Wife , a Declaration of War  filly coming off victories in the Iowa Oaks (G3) and the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) for trainer Mike Maker.

Entries: Alabama S. (G1)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 21, 2021, Race 10

• Grade I
• 1 1/4m
• Dirt
• $600,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 6:13 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Crazy Beautiful (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	121	Kenneth G. McPeek	6/1
2	2Will's Secret (KY)	Jon Kenton Court	121	Dallas Stewart	15/1
3	3Clairiere (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	121	Steven M. Asmussen	6/1
4	4Maracuja (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	121	Rob Atras	7/2
5	5Played Hard (KY)	Luis Saez	121	Philip A. Bauer	15/1
6	6Malathaat (KY)	John R. Velazquez	121	Todd A. Pletcher	1/1
7	7Army Wife (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	121	Michael J. Maker	6/1