Malathaat to skip Belmont, point to CCA Oaks and Alabama

Undefeated Kentucky Oaks winner Malathaat will bypass the June 5 Belmont Stakes, for which she had been under consideration, and will instead target this summer’s major races for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga.

Malathaat is trained by Todd Pletcher -- who won the 2007 Belmont with Oaks winner Rags to Riches -- for Shadwell Stable. A release from that owner said the filly will be pointed for the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 24 and the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes on Aug. 21.

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“She is a little light right now because she is still growing into the frame that she has,” Shadwell vice president and general manager Rick Nichols said of Malathaat, who won the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes on April 3 at Keeneland prior to the April 30 Oaks to remain unbeaten in five starts. “We want to give her a nice break and hopefully put some weight on her.

The ultimate goal for Malathaat will be a start in either the Breeders’ Cup Distaff or Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar, which Nichols noted would be 10 weeks following the Alabama.