Malathaat comes back to face five in Ashland

Mar 30, 2021 by James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Unraced since winning the Demoiselle S. (G2) in early
December, unbeaten Malathaat will
make her eagerly awaited return in Saturday’s $400,000 Ashland S. (G1) at
Keeneland. Todd Pletcher trains the 1.05 million yearling purchase, and
Malathaat tops a field of six in the 170-point Kentucky Oaks qualifier.

Joel Rosario will pick up the mount on the Curlin filly, who
employed stalking tactics when rallying to win the Demoiselle by nearly a
length, and Malathaat will bring a three-for-three record to the 1 1/16-mile
Ashland.

Simply Ravishing,
who rolled to a 6 1/4-length win in the Alcibiades S. (G1) at Keeneland last
fall, will also come back off the bench. A New York-bred daughter of Laoban, Simply
Ravishing was last seen finishing fourth in the Golden Rod S. (G2) at Churchill
Downs in late November. Luis Saez will be up for Kenny McPeek.

Will’s Secret is
a possible major player for Dallas Stewart. A maiden winner at Fair Grounds in
mid-December, the Will Take Charge filly exits back-to-back wins in the Martha Washington S. and Honeybee S. (G3) at Oaklawn Park. The dark bay has shown nice
versatility, winning from on and off the pace, and Jon Court retains the assignment.

Winner of the Suncoast S. two back, Curlin’s Catch will try to improve upon a fifth in the Davona Dale
S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Moon Swag
exits a respectable third in the Rachel Alexandra S. (G2) at Fair Grounds, and
last-out maiden scorer Pass the Champagne completes the field.

One day earlier at Keeneland, the $150,000 Beaumont S. (G3)
will offer qualifying points on a 10-4-2-1 scale for the Kentucky Oaks. Seven
fillies will contest the seven-furlong test

A pair of last-out maiden rompers, Slumber Party and Twenty
Carat, are leading contenders for Kelly Breen and Wesley Ward,
respectively.