Grade 1 Winner Maracuja Retired

Grade 1 winner Maracuja  has been retired from racing, her connections confirmed Aug. 30.

The Rob Atras-trained Honor Code   filly sustained a non-surgical small fracture to her right front ankle in her last start June 25, when she was eased by jockey Kendrick Carmouche in the listed Lady Jacqueline Stakes at Thistledown, according to Atras' wife and assistant, Brittney Atras.

Maracuja made her mark on the game last summer when she upset Malathaat , the champion 3-year-old filly of 2021, by a head in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. She also ran second to eventual grade 1 winner Search Results  in the Gazelle Stakes (G3) that year, and took her young connections to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), where she finished seventh of 13 as Malathaat and Search Results ran 1-2.

"She helped elevate our training operation and she took us to some pretty amazing places," Brittney Atras said. "She's definitely extremely special and we all miss her a lot."

Maracuja was bred in Kentucky by River Bend Farm, Austin Musselman, and Janie Musselman out of the Unbridled's Song mare Patti's Regal Song. She was a $200,000 purchase by Jason Servis, agent, from Buck Pond's consignment to The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and was campaigned through her first six starts by Beach Haven Thoroughbreds.

Following her CCA Oaks win the ownership group expanded to include Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, and Barry Fowler. She retires with a 3-2-1 record from 11 starts and earnings of $588,200. That record includes a fourth in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park this year and a fourth in the Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx Racing at the end of her 3-year-old season.

Maracuja returned to Atras' Belmont Park base after her injury.

"We brought her back to Belmont and had our vets go over her," Brittney Atras said. "She actually was jogging sound in hand and walking sound in hand when she came here; there was just a little bit of filling in the ankle. We left it up to the owners to decide (whether to try to return her to the races)."

Reflecting on Maracuja's presence in their barn, Brittney Atras said the filly had a "larger than life" way about her.

"She's larger than life just in general," she said. "Her whole personality is, 'I'm here, pay attention to me.' She knows she's extremely special and she's been that way since she was a 2-year-old. I'm happy that she's going to go on to be a broodmare and have a wonderful life, but it's obviously sad when they leave. We were all extremely attached to her."