Pletcher fillies Malathaat, Zaajel on target for Kentucky Oaks preps

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – There’s a vacuum atop the national ranks of 3-year-old fillies, and Todd Pletcher is hoping to fill it for Shadwell Stable.

Pletcher will breeze the Shadwell pair of Malathaat and Zaajel together again Saturday at his Palm Beach Downs base as the unbeaten 3-year-old fillies draw closer to their final respective qualifiers for the April 30 Kentucky Oaks. Malathaat likely goes in the March 27 Gulfstream Park Oaks, while Zaajel will be shipped out for the March 20 Fair Grounds Oaks.

Malathaat is the more highly regarded of the two, having closed as the 7-1 third choice among 23 separately listed fillies in the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager conducted by Churchill Downs last weekend. Zaajel closed at 28-1.

Malathaat, a $1.05 million yearling purchase, went unbeaten when favored in all three starts at 2, ending with victories in the Tempted and Grade 2 Demoiselle. The Curlin filly worked alongside Zaajel last Saturday at Palm Beach, getting five furlongs in 1:01.80 in her second work since she missed a little time in February.

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“I feel great about the way she’s doing,” Pletcher said Monday. “If I feel like I need another week with her, the Ashland and Gazelle both will be in play,” referring to Oaks preps to be run April 3 at Keeneland and Aqueduct, respectively.

Zaajel was credited with the same time Saturday in her five-furlong team work with Malathaat. The homebred daughter of Street Sense is 2 for 2, having won the Jan. 30 Forward Gal at Gulfstream in her latest.

Clearly there’s ample opportunity for Malathaat and Zaajel to improve their stature for the Oaks.

The reigning divisional champion, Vequist, was defeated by 26 lengths in her only start this year, the Feb. 27 Davona Dale at Gulfstream, while the respective 2-3-4 finishers behind her in the Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies – Dayoutoftheoffice, Girl Daddy, and Simply Ravishing – have yet to run back.

In the Oaks futures that closed Sunday, Clairiere was the 7-2 favorite, followed by “all others” at 5-1, Travel Column (6-1), and Malathaat (7-1).

Meanwhile, Pletcher is sorting out his top 3-year-old colts as the final round of Kentucky Derby preps draw closer. He said Known Agenda, an 11-length winner of a Feb. 26 allowance at Gulfstream, likely goes in the March 27 Florida Derby. Unbridled Honour, a late-running fourth Saturday in the Tampa Bay Derby, also will be given a chance in a final qualifier.

Likewise, Untreated, who earned an 86 Beyer Speed Figure in winning a two-turn maiden race Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs for Team Valor, also will get a shot on the Derby trail. Also, Dynamic One, a Sunday maiden winner (79 Beyer) at Aqueduct, probably goes back in the April 3 Wood Memorial, while Overtook, the runner-up in the Feb. 6 Withers at Aqueduct, goes next in the Wood or the Blue Grass the same day at Keeneland.

Willy Boi likely for Fla. Cup

Trainer Jeff Engler said Willy Boi will remain in Florida and in sprints after the 3-year-old gelding upped his career mark to 3 for 4 with a 1 3/4-length victory Saturday in the six-furlong Hutcheson.

Engler said the $110,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore, a seven-furlong race on the March 28 Florida Cup card at Tampa Bay Downs, has been penciled in as the likely next start for Willy Boi.

“He’s proven he’s a pure sprinter,” Engler said Monday. “I’ll be sending a few horses to run next month up at Keeneland, but he won’t be one of them.”