Shadwell Stables had a memorable season, both in the United States and in Europe, following the death of its founder, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, last March. Leading the way in the United States was Kentucky Oaks heroine Malathaat, who consistently turned in memorable performances throughout the season. Malathaat, bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Farm, is by Curlin and out of Stonestreet’s Grade 1 winner Dreaming of Julia. That regal pedigree turned several heads at the 2019 Keeneland September yearling sale, including that of Todd Pletcher, who had trained her dam. “She was really high on our draft board,” Pletcher recalled. Pletcher wound up as the underbidder for some of his clients, as Shadwell went to $1.05 million to secure the filly. Afterward, he expressed excitement for Kiaran McLaughlin, a regular trainer for Shadwell. But as the story would have it, McLaughlin chose to retire from training last year, and the filly landed in Pletcher’s barn after all. Malathaat won her debut in October 2020 at Belmont, then took the Tempted Stakes and Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes, both at Aqueduct, to stamp herself as an exciting prospect for the coming season. Pletcher planned for Malathaat to make her 2021 debut in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks on March 27. However, when Sheikh Hamdan died on March 24, all Shadwell runners observed a 10-day moratorium on racing activity, out of respect for the mourning period. Malathaat was, instead, re-routed to the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes on April 3 at Keeneland, which she won by a head to remain unbeaten and make herself the Longines Kentucky Oaks favorite for the emotional Shadwell team. :: Full list of 2021 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories “I’m sure he’s up there with a big smile on his face, looking down on us,” Shadwell’s U.S. manager Rick Nichols said of Sheikh Hamdan. Malathaat overcame a troubled start in the Kentucky Oaks to fend off a stubborn Search Results by a neck under John Velazquez for victory in the historic filly classic. Freshened following that effort, Malathaat launched the second half of her campaign with a prep in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga, beaten a head by longshot Maracuja in her first defeat. She rebounded to achieve her major summer objective, winning the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at the upstate New York track. Malathaat faced older foes for the first time in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar and rallied into the scorching pace to finish third, as longshot Marche Lorraine won by a nose over Dunbar Road, who held second by a half-length. Malathaat will return to the races in 2022 for Shadwell. “She is just such a professional,” Pletcher said. “Not only is she a tremendously talented filly, but she’s also a very kind filly around the barn. You just can’t help but love her personality. . . . It’s just rare that you find too many like this.”