Pletcher: Malathaat seemed 'dull' prior to Shuvee

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday all was well with Malathaat the morning after her disappointing second-place finish to Clairiere as the 3-5 favorite in Sunday’s 2 Grade 2 Shuvee.

“She came back good, seemed just fine this morning,” Pletcher noted. “I don’t know why she was so quiet yesterday. She was very lethargic in the paddock. The only thing I can think of was the heat. It just wasn’t like her. She’s not high strung or animated necessarily, but she was dull."

Malathaat raced three wide while always close up and bumped with Clairiere near the five-sixteenths pole before ultimately being outfinished by that rival, who was able to slip through along the rail at the top of the stretch. Malathaat raced in blinkers for the first time in the Shuvee, although Pletcher felt the equipment change had no effect on the final result.

“From what I saw going into the race, based on her breezes, I thought the blinkers would help, which also leads me to believe she was just off her game yesterday,” said Pletcher. “I don’t think it had anything to do with her not being able to see the other filly inside her. It just wasn’t her day.”

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