Malavath Vies for First US Win in Noble Damsel

Imported group 2 winner Malavath  looks to clench her first win stateside for trainer Christophe Clement and owner Moyglare Stud Farm in the $150,000 Noble Damsel Stakes Sept. 23 at Belmont at the Big A. The one-mile inner turf test for 3-year-olds and up will see six other fillies and mares taken to the field.

Before transferring to Clement's Payson Park homebase, the daughter of Mehmas  captured the Criterium de Maisons-Lafitte (G2) and was second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) in 2021. The filly won the Prix Imprudence (G3) and was runner up in the Prix de la Foret (G1) last season for former conditioner Francis-Henri Graffard. She made her U.S. debut in April in the Plenty of Grace, where she was a distant fifth and then finished sixth in the Eatontown (G3T) at Monmouth Park.

"She had two starts so far for us; they were rather disappointing," said Clement, who shares the record for most Noble Damsel scores of five with Chad Brown. "We didn't run her after the race in New Jersey; we opted to give her some time and regroup. Her works have been nice on the turf at Saratoga, and it's time to go on again."

Other runners include last out gate-to-wire winner Not So Close  for Marylou Whitney Stables; Brown will saddle a trio in multiple graded stakes-winner Fluffy Socks , Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1T) captress Gina Romantica , and grade 2 winner Gerrymander  will make her turf debut; New York-bred five-time winner Sunset Louise ; and multiple grades stakes-placed Runaway Rumour  will start for trainer Linda Rice.