Malathaat Completes Keeneland G1 Trifecta for Pletcher

The full force of the Todd Pletcher barn rumbled through Keeneland’s opening weekend like a tidal wave, sweeping aside all challengers. Beginning with Forte in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and ending with Malathaat in the Oct. 9 $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1), the Hall of Fame trainer racked up three grade 1 wins Saturday and Sunday. Pletcher might even have taken the First Lady Stakes (G1T) Saturday, but didn’t have a horse to spare for it. “I couldn’t come up with one,” Pletcher joked. Pletcher expressed optimism and confidence looking ahead to the Breeders' Cup in a month's time, for which three of his horses, Forte, Annapolis, and Malathaat, earned automatic berths to their respective races by virtue of the "Win and You're In" events. "Everyone stepped up and performed to the expectations that we had for them, so now we hope we can come back in four weeks and try again." To top off the brilliant weekend, Nest registered her third straight victory when defeating older fillies and mares in a performance that was simply a public workout for the star 3-year-old in the Beldame Stakes (G2) at Belmont at the Big A. Pletcher will saddle the two likely favorites for the Nov. 5 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). “We’re blessed to have two fillies like that,” he said. “They are both pleasures to train and so professional and seem to get better and better as they go along. All you can do is prepare each of them to the best of your ability.” And both fillies are undefeated at Keeneland, the host for this year’s Breeders’ Cup. Malathaat, crowned the champion 3-year-old filly of 2021, could provide the stiffest test yet for her younger stablemate. The daughter of Curlin signaled her return to the top of the division with a 5 1/4-length runaway in the Spinster Stakes. Owned by Shadwell Stables, Malathaat began her 4-year-old campaign with a determined score in the Baird Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) at Keeneland in April. Following that win, however, the filly dropped a head decision to Clairiere in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) on Belmont Stakes day. It was after that race when Pletcher made the decision to try blinkers on the bay. “She’s always had a tendency that when she makes the lead to kind of idle a little bit,” Pletcher said. “It’s hard to make a change on a filly that’s winning races like she’s winning, but you know we just felt like it was time after the Phipps. Johnny (Velazquez) said when she got to the wire she kind of saw something and put the brakes on at a critical moment. I think they have offered that little bit of focus we were looking for.” Since adding blinkers, Malathaat is 2-for-3. Her last-out win over a top-shelf field in the Personal Ensign Handicap (G1) was a performance that mirrored the form she showed last year when sealing her championship. Bet down Sunday as the 2-5 favorite over defending race titleholder Letruska, Malathaat cruised comfortably in fourth as Letruska battled it out on the front end with Played Hard and Princess of Cairo through a :24.41 opening quarter and :47.90 half-mile. Letruska’s hopes of reclaiming her former glory vanished when Malathaat loomed outside of the pacesetter turning for home, opening daylight between herself and the field in a matter of strides. There was no idling on the lead for Malathaat, who rolled home under the occasional flick of the wrist from Velazquez to hit the wire in 1:51.05 for 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track. Army Wife, last in the field of five through much of the race, closed encouragingly for second, 3 1/4 lengths clear of Played Hard. Letruska faded to fourth in her third consecutive defeat since winning the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) in April. “I saw Nest winning earlier today, so it’s going to be a phenomenal Distaff,” said Jonny Smyth, co-manager of Shadwell Farm. “(Malathaat has) done everything perfect for us and really put on a show today. I just got off the phone with Sheikha Hissa (Hamdan Al Maktoum, owner of Shadwell Farm) and she’s extremely excited and very happy.” A $1.05 million Keeneland September yearling purchase for Shadwell, Malathaat is a third-generation grade 1 winner following the hoofsteps of her dam, Dreaming of Julia, and granddam Wild Rush. Malathaat was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, who also campaigned Dreaming of Julia. The 12-year-old A.P. Indy mare has a 2-year-old and weanling full sister to Malathaat as well as a yearling filly by Medaglia d'Oro. She was covered by Into Mischief this past breeding season.