Malathaat back to winning ways in Alabama
SARATOGA SPRINGS >> When unbeaten Malathaat was upset at odds-on four weeks ago in the Coaching Club American Oaks, the obvious question was how the Curlin filly would respond Saturday in the Alabama Stakes.
There were reasons to be optimistic. The Todd Pletcher charge had to overcome an inside post in the Coaching Club, as well as a sort of “tag team” strategy utilized by a couple of her rivals — and she did fight to the last jump in that race. Bettors certainly liked her chances on Saturday, sending the long-striding filly off at 2-5.
Some of that optimism may have melted away when Malathaat stumbled briefly leaving
the gate, shuffling her back to last in the seven-horse field. Under the expert handling of John Velazquez, however, she quickly gathered herself, settling into stride a few lengths back of longshot leaders Played Hard and Will’s Secret. The horses more or less held their positions into and around the turn, with Malathaat an increasingly threatening presence on the outside.
The pacesetters began to weaken coming off the turn, with Army Wife the first to go by. But Malathaat had all three fillies measured, cruising past with little apparent effort to prevail by a length and a half. Clairiere was second by a halflength over Army Wife. Coaching Club winner Maracuja finished last. The running time
for 1¼ miles over “good” going was 2:02.59.
“We had a better post today,” newly minted Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said of Malathaat’s no. 6 post. “We were able to let her just run her race. She’s an extremely intelligent horse; I think she kind of likes playing with horses.
She’s as good as any we’ve ever had.”
It was unclear whether Pletcher considered Malathaat the equal of any 3-year-old filly he’s trained; the equal of any female horse of any age; or the equal of any horse he’s conditioned, period. When Pletcher said he considered Velazquez “as good as anyone’s ever been,” though, he obviously wasn’t restricting himself in any sense.
Malathaat and runnerup Clariere are both daughters of Curlin. Other Curlin progeny who have won at 1¼ miles or longer within the past two years include Vino Rosso (Breeders’ Cup Classic), Global Campaign (Woodward), Idol (Santa Anita Handicap) and Campaign (Cougar II).,
PACIFIC CLASSIC
One of the more diverse fields in the history of the Pacific Classic lined up for
the 31st edition of the influential race on Saturday. Starters included Tripoli, a former turf horse who was making his second start on dirt after failing to win beyond the maiden level in six tries on grass. Tizamagician, who had required six starts to break his maiden and whose only stakes wins had come at the rare dirt distance of 1½ miles. And Sheriff Brown, dismissed at 81-1 on Saturday, whose only stakes win was in the
Winsham Lad Handicap 18 months ago at New Mexico’s Sunland Park.
As it turned out, Tripoli, Tizamagician and Sheriff Brown finished first, second and fourth, respectively, in the $1 million race. Favorites Express Train (2-1) and Royal Ship (5-2) checked in sixth and seventh, beaten more than ten lengths.
Tizamagician jumped out to the lead from his no. 2 post, and, accompanied by Independence Hall and Tripoli, led at every call through a mile. Turning the corner, Tripoli moved out to challenge Tizamagician, going by in mid-stretch as it became a two-horse race to the wire. The margin of victory was 1½ lengths, with Dr Post rallying for third, another half-length back.
Tripoli is a son of noted turf sire Kitten’s Joy. Is Tripoli his first G1 winner on dirt? Probably. Answer on Wednesday,