Maracuja Upsets Malathaat In CCA Oaks

[Wandering Eyes]

Easily the longest price of the four runners signed on for Saturday's GI Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga, Beach Haven Thoroughbreds' MARACUJA (f, 3, Honor Code–Patti's Regal Song, by Unbridled's Song) refused to follow the script, as simply outbattled the previously undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' and last-out GI Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Malathaat (Curlin) by a head. Clariere (Curlin) was a distant third. Maracuja won the break, but Malathaat was ridden positively in a field that appeared on paper to be void of speed and took over as the quartet hit the clubhouse turn. She'd been made to do some work, though, as the first couple of furlongs was up in :23.38. Clairiere was allowed to roll forward while three wide down the backstretch and the pressure remained very much on the 1-5 chalk through a half in a strong :47.13. The two Curlin fillies raced as a team into the final three furlongs, but Ricardo Santana, Jr.  was getting after Maracuja in earnest and they loomed a threat three deep at the head of the stretch. Clairiere was first to call it a day, leaving Maracuja and Malathaat to battle it out, but the former outgamed her more accomplished rival to the line. The final time was 1:49.29. A $200,000 graduate of the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, Maracuja is the sixth stakes winner, third graded winner and second top-level scorer for Honor Code and the 28^th GISW produced by a daughter of the late Unbridled's Song. O-Beach Haven Thoroughbreds LLC; B-River Bend Farm Inc, Austin Musselman & Janie Musselman (KY); T-Rob Atras.

The post Maracuja Upsets Malathaat In CCA Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article