Malathaat Likely to Train Up to Breeders' Cup Distaff

Shadwell Stable's Malathaat  reasserted her dominance in the 3-year-old filly division at Saratoga Race Course with a powerful score in the Aug. 21 Alabama Stakes (G1) for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

The regally bred daughter of Curlin   made a sweeping four wide move in upper stretch to win by 1 1/2 lengths under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

"It was good to get back and get a reasonably good trip despite stumbling at the start," Pletcher said. "It was a very, very strong performance. She looks good this morning."

With a trio of grade 1 wins under her belt during a prosperous 2021 campaign, Malathaat is the current frontrunner for champion 3-year-old filly honors.

Pletcher said Malathaat will likely train up to the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

"Right now, we're focused on the Distaff, so we'll zero in on that and take things from there. That's the most likely scenario," Pletcher said. "Nothing's etched in stone, but that's sort of the plan that we discussed with Rick Nichols (of Shadwell) a while ago."

Pletcher previously secured Alabama triumphs with Princess of Sylmar  (2013) and Stopchargingmaria  (2014), and the latter also captured the following year's Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Beach Haven Thoroughbreds, Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds and Barry Fowler's Maracuja  stutter-stepped at the start of Saturday's Alabama and endured a difficult inside trip en route to finishing seventh.

The Honor Code   filly, who upset the previously undefeated Malathaat in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) in her prior start under a brilliant ride by Ricardo Santana Jr., was hemmed in by that rival in the Alabama before coming up empty in the stretch run.

"She got pinned down on the inside, taking dirt. It was kind of a rough trip," trainer Rob Atras said. "Ricardo tried to get her outside a couple times and wasn't able to. I think if we'd got a good outside trip, she'd probably have run a lot better, but Ricardo said she struggled the whole way around. I don't want to make any excuses. That's racing. She came out of it good."

Atras said he'll consider a number of options for his star filly's next start.

"I think the filly is a little better off with five or six weeks between races," Atras said. "We'll see. I won't make plans for another week or so after we see how she comes out of it."

After notching back-to-back graded stakes victories, trainer Chad Brown said Klaravich Stables' Technical Analysis , winner of Saturday's Lake Placid Stakes (G2T) at the Spa, will likely take things up a notch and point to the Oct. 15 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Dixiana (G1T) at Keeneland.

The Irish-bred daughter of Kingman  handled a stretch out in distance well in the 1 1/16-mile Lake Placid, contested over a yielding inner turf, kicking clear down the lane to win by 3 1/2 lengths. In her prior start, she won the Lake George Stakes (G3T) at one mile, where she bested stablemate Fluffy Socks  by 1 1/4 lengths.

While previously apprehensive of stretching Technical Analysis too far out in distance, Brown said he has noticed considerable improvement, which is prompting him to try the nine-furlong Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.

"The QE II is probably the main target for her," said Brown. "After the race yesterday, she's really shown improvement, so I'm going to try stretching her out again."