Malathaat and Maracuja rematch looms in the Alabama at Saratoga on Saturday
New York Hot List Staff | Friday, August 20, 2021
The 3 year-old-fillies will race 1 ¼ miles for the first time in their careers at Saratoga on Saturday in the $600,000 Grade 1 Alabama Stakes. Maracuja and Malathaat, who were separated by only a head at the end of the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), will faceoff for the third time in their careers.
Malathaat, who is owned by Shadwell Stables and is trained by Todd Pletcher, is the even money favorite on the morning line despite losing for the first time to Maracuja. The daughter of Curlin drew post-position six which should allow jockey John Velazquez to return to racing from off the pace after having to go to the lead in the CCA Oaks.
“I’m hoping that we get on the outside and stay clear. Those other two fillies [Maracuja and Clairiere] just kept tag teaming her and she never had a chance to take a breath,” said Shadwell Stables’ General Manager Rick Nichols. “I think the additional distance will be a benefit to her as well. Her pedigree certainly points towards that direction.”
Malathaat won her first five starts and her record now stands at 6: 5-1-0 with earnings of $1,225,150.
“Even though she got beat last time, she’s never had a bad race,” added Nichols. “She doesn’t know she got beat.”
Here are the Hot List picks for the Alabama:
The $600,000 Alabama (G1), Saratoga, Saturday, Race 10.
(7) Army Wife is the winner of her last two races, first in the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) and then the Iowa Oaks (G3) for Mike Maker. Maker has given her time since her win on July 2 in Iowa with an eye on the Alabama. She looks like a horse that can take another step forward which she will need to do to win this race. (6) Malathaat got her first defeat in the CCA Oaks (G1) following five wins after being hounded on the front end, yet she still was able to battle down the stretch and lose by just a head. Trainer Todd Pletcher has said all along that the longer the race the better for Malathaat and that means that the ten-furlong distance is to her favor. We should expect that Johnny V. will go back to racing behind the pace with his outside post position. There are plenty who will say that the CCA Oaks will be tough to come out of at 100%. Malathaat will be heavily bet and is the horse to beat. (4) Maracuja beat Malathaat in the CCA Oaks when she stalked the pace battle and got the final run down the stretch. It is unlikely that the Maracuja will get the same kind of perfect trip. (1) Crazy Beautiful is the winner of two graded stakes in her last two starts. She will face her toughest field since running 10th in the Kentucky Oaks. Trainer Kenny McPeek has won 2 out of the last 3 editions of the Alabama.